11-year-old moped rider's death in Smiltene municipality reveals grim road statistic
An 11-year-old girl died while riding a moped on a dirt road in Ape parish, Smiltene municipality, near the Estonian border. A television program revealed she is the second-youngest driver to die in a Latvian road accident since 2000.
A tragedy has struck Ape parish in Smiltene municipality, where an 11-year-old girl died while driving a moped. The accident occurred on a dirt road several kilometers from Ape, close to the border between Latvia and Estonia.
News of the girl's death has drawn wide public attention. The program "Degpunktā" highlighted a striking statistic: the girl is the second-youngest driver of a motorized vehicle to die in a road accident in Latvia since the year 2000.
Youngest case dates back to 2012
According to available information, the youngest known case involved a seven-year-old child who died while riding a moped. This most likely refers to an accident that occurred on the evening of July 21, 2012, in Malta parish, Rēzekne municipality, when a seven-year-old moped driver failed to yield to a car while pulling out onto a main road outside a populated area.
Police urge parents to talk with children
Following the accident, the State Police reiterated the importance of following road safety rules. The agency stressed that every vehicle driver must consider both their own safety and that of other road users, particularly emphasizing the importance of wearing a helmet when riding two-wheeled vehicles.
The police also reminded the public that mopeds and other vehicles of the corresponding category may only be driven by a person holding the appropriate category of driving license. The agency called on parents and legal guardians of children to discuss basic road safety principles with their children and to ensure children follow the necessary safety requirements when participating in road traffic.
