On 9 April, 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 Deputy Prime Minister, Tigran Khachatryan, members of the National Assembly, Head of Police, Deputy Ministers, representatives from Yerevan Municipality, NGOs, and media outlets. The gathering underscored the collaborative efforts being made to address the pressing issue of road safety in Armenia.

One of the key discussion points of the hearing was the status of the National Road Safety Strategy, which was drafted with the support of the Asian Development Bank in 2021. An outline of the Strategy, which focuses on the implementation of the Safe System Approach, was presented by EaP RSO Country Consultant, Poghos Shahinyan. It was agreed at the hearing, that an approved national strategy would support Armenia’s efforts to improve road safety with tangible key performance indicators to measure success. It would also help in generating investment in road safety across difference government departments. As an outcome of the meetings, the current draft strategy will be shared with international road safety experts, including the EaP RSO, for their feedback before being brought back to parliament for further discussion. 

Shahinyan’s presentation also highlighted Armenia's recent membership in the Eastern Partnership Road Safety Observatory and the ongoing assistance provided to the Police and the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure (MTAI) in data collection and road safety auditing, with a specific focus on implementing a CADaS based system.

The event marked 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 crash statistics, the adoption of a comprehensive strategy is more crucial than ever. This sentiment was also echoed this week by the Director of Road Safety at the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, and EaP RSO Policy Coordinator, Arevhat Poghosyan, as part of the CAREC/ Asia Pacific Road Safety Observatory 'Data in Action' webinar series.

She spoke on Armenia's recent road safety record, noting some positive trends in 2024, and the current steps being taken to build on these improvements through blackspot analysis, legal reforms on infrastructure, and improved enforcement.

The entire meeting was broadcast online and is available for viewing on the National Assembly of Armenia's website.

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