Vision Zero is inspiring a technological revolution in road safety. Connected vehicles that talk to each other, artificial intelligence that predicts crashes before they happen, electric vehicles with advanced safety features – these innovations promise significant progress toward eliminating road deaths and serious injuries. Yet for countries in the Eastern Partnership (EaP) region, opportunity and challenge coexist. While awareness of these technologies is growing, the capacity to deploy them remains limited. Understanding where the EaP sits on this technological journey is critical to charting a realistic path forward.
To support this, and as part of the support provided by the European Commission to the EaP countries, the World Bank conducted a Technology Readiness review of three Eastern Partnership countries: Armenia, Georgia and Moldova. The review examined four key technology areas: Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs), electric vehicles (EVs), AI-driven safety systems, and driver telematics. These technologies are reshaping road safety globally. CAVs promise to reduce human error while EVs offer environmental benefits with both incorporating advanced safety features. AI enables real-time risk detection and predictive analytics. Telematics uses driving data to personalize safety interventions. But translating this potential into regional progress requires honest assessment and strategic planning.
Across the EaP region, countries demonstrate genuine commitment. Armenia has adopted digital transformation strategies and is developing an Autonomy Centre of Excellence. Traffic management centers now operate in Yerevan and Chișinău, integrating cameras, sensors and real-time traffic data. Georgia has ambitious EV goals, aiming to replace 90% of its vehicle fleet with electric cars within a decade. Moldova launched a traffic monitoring center in late 2024 that integrates 180 cameras, sensors and transit data to optimize traffic flow and enhance safety. These are meaningful steps. Yet they also reveal the gap between ambition and readiness.
The assessment framework benchmarked each country across a readiness scale ranging from awareness to mature ecosystem. The results tell a nuanced story. On CAVs, Armenia is at the awareness stage while Georgia and Moldova show early emerging testing. On EVs, Armenia and Moldova are emerging while Georgia leads with early expansion. On Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications, Georgia and Armenia show greater advancement than might be expected. On driver telematics, Georgia is scaling integration while Armenia and Moldova are building capacity. No country is at the mature ecosystem stage, nor should we expect them to be. What matters is the trajectory, and in most areas it is positive.
But readiness involves much more than technology. It requires robust infrastructure, skilled professionals, effective regulation, and public trust. This is where challenges become more apparent. The EaP region's vehicle fleet is aging and imported, meaning Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) adoption is inconsistent. High-definition maps needed for autonomous vehicles meet general navigation standards but lack the centimeter-level accuracy required for AVs. Data protection frameworks exist but implementation experience is limited. 5G rollout is underway but coverage remains uneven. Professional capacity in data science, cybersecurity and digital infrastructure management must be strengthened.
Several priorities emerge from this analysis:
1. Harmonizing vehicle safety standards. EaP countries should adopt core UN vehicle regulations and gradually align their frameworks with EU Vehicle Safety Regulation and UNECE standards. This creates a regulatory foundation for technology deployment.
2. Accelerating connectivity. Without robust 5G networks and digital infrastructure, especially in rural areas where road safety challenges are acute, many innovations cannot function effectively.
3. Building human capital. Technology adoption depends on engineers, data scientists, cybersecurity professionals and policy makers who understand the technical and governance dimensions.
Equally important is getting governance right. Data privacy, cybersecurity and liability frameworks must be developed in parallel with technology deployment. Countries should design smart road infrastructure projects with digital integration in mind from the outset. Infrastructure upgrades, still a priority for most EaP counties, represent an opportunity to 'future-proof' networks rather than locking in yesterday's design. Regional cooperation can amplify individual efforts. Countries sharing vehicle standards, data governance approaches and technical knowledge will progress faster than those acting alone.
One more consideration deserves emphasis: technology is not a substitute for proven road safety fundamentals. Infrastructure design, speed enforcement, and Safe System principles remain the foundation. Emerging technologies should enhance these, not replace them. The countries that achieve lasting progress will be those that integrate technologies incrementally alongside continued investment in basic road safety infrastructure and enforcement.
Across the EaP region, countries are already testing and deploying technologies but moving from emerging initiatives to mature, integrated systems require sustained investment, clear regulatory frameworks, and genuine regional cooperation. The Eastern Partnership Road Safety Observatory is thus well-positioned to facilitate knowledge exchange and provide technical guidance as countries navigate this transition.
