DUSHANBE, February 7, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- 165 traffic accidents involving China-made economy minivans, used as fixed-route taxies and known among people as Tangem, were registered in the Tajik capital last year, according to deputy chief of the Dushanbe traffic police department, Colonel Ziyoratsho Khoushev.

“Three persons were killed and 43 others were injured in those accidents,” said Colonel Khoushev, “We analyzed the situation and came to a conclusion that a sharp increase in the number of these minivans hampers traffic flow in the city.”  “Traffic intensity analysis has shown that some 20-25 “Tangems” move per minute in one cross-section.”

As it had been reported earlier, Dushanbe Mayor on February 5 signed a resolution prohibiting China-made economy minivans, used as fixed route taxies, from main streets of the city.