Armenia Takes a Step Forward in Road Safety with Comprehensive Public Hearing

On April 9, 2025, the National Assembly of Armenia hosted a pivotal public hearing focused on enhancing road safety across the country. This event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including members of the National Assembly, the Head of Police, Deputy Ministers, representatives from Yerevan Municipality, the Deputy Prime Minister, NGOs, and media outlets. The gathering underscored the collaborative efforts being made to address the pressing issue of road safety in Armenia.

Key Presentations and Discussions

Poghos Shahinyan, Director of the National Road Safety Council (NRSC), was among the prominent speakers at the event https://youtu.be/0eC6kyCZ-cs. Shahinyan presented a detailed overview of current developments in road safety, highlighting the draft national road safety strategy. This comprehensive strategy outlines both short-term and long-term goals designed to improve road safety nationwide.

Key Areas of Focus:

•     Speed Management: Implementing effective speed limit strategies to ensure safer roads.

•     Vehicle Safety: Enhancing vehicle standards and technical inspections to reduce accidents.

•     Data Collection: Revising the current data collection system based on CaDAS (Collision Analysis and Data Acquisition System).

•     Road Safety Audit: Conducting regular assessments to identify and mitigate risks on roads.

•     Black Spot Management: Targeted efforts to improve safety at accident-prone areas.

•     Road Assessment: Launching the iRAP (International Road Assessment Programme) project to review over 3,000 km of Armenia's roads, recently approved.

Shahinyan also emphasized Armenia's recent membership in the Eastern Partnership Road Safety Observatory (EaP RSO) and the ongoing assistance provided to the Police and the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure (MTAI) in data collection and road safety auditing. Additionally, plans for reviewing the national road safety strategy were discussed.

Innovative Projects and Initiatives

The NRSC has been at the forefront of several innovative projects aimed at enhancing road safety awareness. Notably, an unprecedented online education initiative successfully trained over 155,000 children in road safety within just 10 days. This initiative has had profound implications for increasing awareness and safety among young Armenians.

Furthermore, Shahinyan highlighted the implementation of a 30 km/h speed limit in school zones, with a pilot project launched at two schools in Yerevan. This project features a new design for school zones, aimed at reducing accidents and ensuring a safer environment for children.

Closing Remarks and Future Plans

In his closing remarks, Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Khachatryan stressed the necessity of a comprehensive national road safety strategy. He welcomed the ongoing review of the strategy and expressed support for its adoption as soon as possible. This commitment underscores the government's recognition of road safety as a priority issue.

Public Access to the Hearing

The entire meeting was broadcast online and is available for viewing on the National Assembly of Armenia's website at https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?mibextid=wwXIfr&ref=watch_permalink&v=3914272222119741&rdid=MbDhYdJ5rKBJFA65.

This transparency ensures that the public can stay informed about the discussions and decisions made regarding road safety in Armenia.

The event marks a significant step towards addressing the challenges of road safety in Armenia, with a clear focus on collaborative efforts and strategic planning to improve safety on the country's roads. As Armenia continues to face concerning road accident statistics, with an average of one person dying every day in traffic-related accidents annually, the adoption of a comprehensive strategy is more crucial than ever.