This year, the region has seen an increase in both the number of traffic accidents and fatalities. Experts point to a range of contributing factors, primarily the growing number of vehicles and overall traffic volume, infrastructure problems, tourism, weather conditions, as well as human error and a lack of traffic-safety awareness. Penalties and preventive campaigns, our interlocutors note, help improve the situation by informing the public, among other things, about vehicle equipment, alcohol consumption, and fatigue.