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The proposed amendments and addenda to the Laws on Motorways and on State Duty are aimed at increasing the safety level of the road network and tunnels, reducing their potential risks, and implementing a preventive policy in the direction of traffic accidents. The RA Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Kristine Ghalechyan said this at the sitting of the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs.

The Deputy Minister highlighted the definition of a mandatory requirement for road safety audit during the construction, reconstruction and overhaul of roads.

According to the Deputy Minister, interstate roads will be audited from July 2025, national roads - from 2026, regional and local roads - from 2027. It is also proposed to carry out a road safety impact assessment, which is expected to be completed by 2029.

The Executive also proposes to create a unified and integrated road safety data management system.

Kristine Ghalechyan also informed that there is a requirement to qualify road safety auditors.

Answering the question of the NA deputy Hovik Aghazaryan, when the audit is conducted - before putting the road into operation or at the next stage, the Deputy Minister said that the audit starts its studies in the design phase of the road’s overhaul: The draft is independently audited for road safety compliance assessment. At that stage, certain conclusions or observations are given, and the designer is obliged to take them into consideration. During the construction stage, a more extensive audit work is carried out.

The Deputy Minister mentioned that today an attempt is being made to conduct a unified policy towards the solution of road safety problems. In the near future, the domestic strategy draft will also be presented for debate.

The Committee endorsed the legislative initiative submitted for debate in the first reading.