BTA reveals: Latvia's roads have transformed into meteor fields, but in Liepāja stones only fly in Karosta
Insurance company reports record-high 4000 euro compensation for flying stone, but Liepāja residents note that here stones only fly at tourists' heads.
BTA has announced alarming statistics — Latvia's roads have become real asteroid fields, where stones fly six times more frequently than potholes cause damage. The largest compensation for damage caused by a flying stone reached 4000 euros, which in Liepāja's scale is almost half of the Grīzupe bridge renovation budget.
Most affected are Volkswagen, Volvo, Audi and BMW cars, which suggests that stones have good taste when it comes to expensive vehicles. Or they simply understand that more compensation can be squeezed out of these cars than from a Zhiguli.
The most horrifying incident occurred on the road to Tome, where after a stone hit the windshield, the driver got so scared that he drove off the road. Liepāja resident Valdis comments: "Well yes, here in Karosta fortress tourists are also afraid of stones, but there at least they pay money for it, instead of demanding compensation!"
An even more tragic case — a BMW X4 in Olaine after collision drove into a water-filled pothole, for which BTA paid out 26,000 euros. That's more than the value of all of Liepāja's tram fleet, if we had one. But we don't need trams — we have flying stones that provide an equally thrilling ride.
BTA director Ivo Danče warns about instinctive reactions to stones, but in Liepāja we perceive stones as a natural landscape element. After all, what is one flying gravel piece compared to our traditional wind power?
⚠️ Satirical article. Facts are preserved, but the presentation is humorous. For accurate information, please refer to the original source.