Lithuania: a candle for pedestrians without reflectors
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Lithuanian police are handing out candles to pedestrians and cyclists who don't wear reflectors on their clothing on dark country roads — a stark reminder that they are risking their lives.
The reflectors are compulsory in the Baltic nation, and those who fail to wear them already face a 140-euro ($168) fine. Without them, pedestrians are almost invisible to cars in the dark.
Police spokesman Ramunas Matonis said Tuesday the campaign will run until the end of February and may be extended.
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Lithuania has spent more than a decade tackling the number of fatal accidents involving pedestrians and non-motorized vehicles.
In 2006, 780 people were killed; a decade later, it had dropped to 188. But there is still work to do: of the eight people killed on Lithuania's roads so far this year, seven were pedestrians.