Behind the Wheel: Fatal Car Accidents On the Rise

In 2022, the World Bank conducted a study on traffic accidents, revealing that Armenia had the second-highest rate of automobile deaths among all European Union and former Soviet countries. Furthermore, Azatutyun reported that traffic-related fatalities have increased over the past decade. Data from the World Bank in 2021 shows that car crash fatalities in Armenia in 2019 were more than double the European Union average for the same year. Delving deeper, the socioeconomic impact is stark, with the cost of car accidents amounting to approximately 6% of Armenia’s GDP. Investing in making roads physically safer, and introducing initiatives to encourage safer driving habits, the Armenian government can substantially reduce costs and promote wellbeing simultaneously.

In August 2023, a traffic accident on the Yerevan-Gyumri highway, involving a minibus, left 11 people dead. This incident reignited discussions regarding Armenia’s road safety. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan pledged additional measures aimed at enhancing road traffic safety. Despite recurrent assurances from politicians in recent years regarding the commitment to make roads safer, there remains a lack of public statements and transparency regarding the concrete steps being taken to make roads safer for the Armenian public. 

Yerevan’s municipal government must also address the issue of insufficient speeding enforcement, whether conducted manually or by radar. Even within the city center, pedestrians are forced to be vigilant and aware of their surroundings while crossing streets due the prevalence of drivers exceeding speed limits. The World Bank Group’s Global Road Safety Facility found that by reducing Armenia’s maximum speed limit of 60 km/h to 30 km/h in urban areas, there could potentially be a six-fold decrease in the risk of fatal car accidents.

Fines for driving under the influence have increased, although it may take a few more years to accurately assess the effectiveness of this strategy in discouraging individuals from driving while intoxicated. In January 2016, the penalty in Armenia for this offense was a fine of up to 150,000 AMD ($390 USD). However, as of January 1, 2020, the minimum fine for impaired driving was increased to 300,000 AMD ($780 US dollars). Furthermore, a point system was introduced to penalize drivers who violated traffic laws. If a driver’s blood alcohol content  is 1g/1L (.10 BAC), they will also receive a one year license suspension.

In addition to higher fine penalties, there should be stricter measures when it comes to suspending driver’s licenses. In many developed nations, a minimum blood alcohol content of .10 can result in prison time, substantial fines, or long-term license suspensions. Armenian lawmakers must adopt a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to drinking and driving. In the majority of cases, intoxicated suspects apprehended by police are seldom jailed, enabling them to reoffend because there are no significant consequences. Armenia’s police press noted that the vast majority of cases involving the suspension of a driver’s license are related to driving while intoxicated. 

The prevalence of drunk driving in Armenia that goes undetected is quite concerning. A report from June 2014 disclosed that during a brief four-hour sobriety checkpoint in Yerevan, traffic police impounded 19 vehicles due to driver intoxication. 

In 2017, 217 people were injured and 15 were killed due to accidents caused by intoxicated drivers. This number increased in 2018, causing 326 injuries and 23 fatalities. In the first half of 2021, Armenia’s traffic police reported 2,169 traffic accidents, 168 deaths and 3,186 injuries. By year’s end, the country recorded 368 traffic-related deaths. A significant number of these accidents involved a drunk driver. However, recent police data does not specify the percentage of traffic deaths attributable to drunk driving, making it challenging to determine if there has been a decrease in fatal accidents caused by drunk driving.

While the Armenian government can make significant efforts to improve road safety, ultimately, the choice to drive safely lies with each individual. One of the greatest social misfortunes in Yerevan and other urban areas is the widespread disregard for laws and prevalence of reckless driving. Social initiatives aimed at positively influencing public behavior should be encouraged and welcomed. 

For instance, in 2019, the Armenia Wine Company launched a campaign called Sober at the Wheel. This initiative aimed to educate the public about the historical role of wine in Armenian culture, emphasizing that historically, Armenians drank wine for enjoyment, not intoxication. The campaign also focused on educating children for the purpose of “building a sober society and a happy future for children.”

In 2021, UNICEF launched a project in Armenia, funded by the United Nations Road Safety Fund. The purpose was to reform road safety policies in an effort to reduce road deaths by 50% by 2030. In addition, UNICEF conducted a study of Armenia’s context to develop educational resources, guides, counseling services and seminars for Armenian families to promote safe driving practices.

A study by Dr. Sharon Chekijian of Yale Medical School found that only 47% of surveyed drivers in Yerevan had airbags in their cars. Furthermore, only 24% of drivers and 21% of passengers wore seatbelts. 

After increasing enforcement efforts, requiring traffic police to stop drivers not wearing seatbelts, seatbelt use rose to 81% among drivers and 69% among passengers. What is missing in Armenia at the moment is police reform and stricter law enforcement. By reducing indifference within police departments and increasing diligence in tackling crime, we could see higher compliance from drivers and consequently, a reduced number of fatal car accidents.

In August 2023, Oragir news reporters interviewed Armenians in Yerevan’s city center. They asked for opinions on the causes of recent car accidents. The residents cited overcrowded roads, poor road conditions, reckless driving and disregard for traffic laws as factors. Despite the municipal government’s efforts to enhance road safety by fixing potholes and making roads safer, there is still more room for improvement. All of these factors contribute to why there is a higher fatality rate when drunk driving is involved. 

The public’s views align with Arman Chilingarian, the deputy chief of the traffic police, who stated in 2022 that the growing number of cars contributes to the rise in car accidents and deaths. Public policy experts also identified lenient policing, a reckless driving culture, and reduced traffic fines as reasons for the increasing road accidents. Daniel Ioannisyan, head of the Union of Informed Citizens, blamed Vahe Ghazaryan and Gnel Sanosyan (Interior Minister and Territorial Administration Minister respectively) for failing to develop methods to reduce road fatalities.

Drunk driving is a concern that plagues every nation; this situation is unique to Armenia. There’s no need for politicians to invent new solutions, as effective strategies already exist to reduce traffic accidents and drunk driving. Internationally, millions of dollars have been spent researching effective methods to reduce these problems. Despite support from NGOs, public policy experts, and UNICEF, it’s perplexing that Armenia has not taken basic steps to address this serious issue. Having the second-highest rate of traffic fatalities among all European Union and post-USSR countries is both shameful and alarming.

Modern Challenges
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