Armenia Towards Safe System Approach

On June 3, 2025, Yerevan hosted the pivotal workshop "Towards Safe System Approach," organised by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The event brought together national and international road safety experts, policymakers, and stakeholders to discuss the implementation of the Safe System Approach in Armenia—a strategy recognised globally for its effectiveness in reducing road fatalities and serious injuries.

Keynote Insights from Mr. Poghos Shahinyan

During the workshop, Mr. Poghos Shahinyan, Director of the National Road Safety Council NGO, delivered a compelling review speech emphasising the urgent need for Armenia to adopt the Safe System Approach. Drawing from both international best practices and Armenia’s unique challenges, Mr. Shahinyan outlined several critical points:

o    Road fatalities remain a pressing issue in Armenia, with vulnerable groups such as children especially at risk.

o    The Safe System Approach is not just a technical framework but a philosophy that prioritises human life above all. It recognises that people make mistakes and that the road system must be designed to ensure these mistakes do not result in death or serious injury.

o    Mr. Shahinyan highlighted the importance of evidence-based interventions, such as implementing 30km/h speed limits around school zones and hospitals and upgrading r

oad infrastructure to protect pedestrians and other vulnerable users.

o    He stressed that intergovernmental cooperation is vital. Effective road safety requires the coordinated efforts of ministries, local authorities, law enforcement, health services, and civil society.

 ("School zones are not just marked by boundaries but by a shared commitment to road safety. In the deceleration of speed, we forge a shield around education, embracing a strategy where every reduced km/h becomes a promise to safeguard the dreams of our future leaders.") 

Looking Ahead

Armenia stands at a crossroads in its road safety journey. As Mr. Shahinyan noted, the Safe System Approach offers a path to meaningful, measurable change—but only if all sectors of society and government work together. The workshop in Yerevan has set a strong foundation for this collaborative effort, signalling a new era of road safety leadership in Armenia.

The National Road Safety Council NGO remains committed to supporting these efforts, advocating for practical, life-saving measures, and fostering partnerships that will help realise the vision of safer roads for all Armenians.