Enforcement Deficit: Car Seat Laws in Armenia

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More than four years have passed since the Armenian government adopted a decision defining rules for transporting children under the age of 12 in vehicles. However, this has seen minimal implementation.

The 2019 decision stipulates that children under seven must be transported in cars and trucks using child restraint systems — car seats — according to a child’s weight and height. Meanwhile, ISOFIX child restraint systems or seatbelts must be used for children aged 7-12.

Arsen Torosyan, the former Minister of Health and current Member of Parliament, was actively involved in raising awareness and sharing information about this decision. He posted various materials on his social media pages about the use of car seats and even proposed a platform for donating car seats.

“I believe that we have to be very consistent in this issue, not only to make changes in the law but also to oversee its enforcement,” Torosyan said during a press conference in 2019. “This is one of the state’s responsibilities and not something done on a whim. It is the responsibility to protect all of its citizens, including children, regardless of whether the parent understands the danger of having a child ride without a seat belt or not because if we leave it to their discretion, we will have what we have now.”

Anna Avetisyan, a mother of four, makes sure that all her children are secured in car seats when she drives. Her children range in age from nine months to seven years.

“After the birth of my eldest daughter, we bought a car, and at the same time, we also bought our first car seat. My daughter has been using one since she was 1.5 years old,” Anna shares, highlighting her challenging experiences. “My brother died in a car accident because his seat belt wasn’t fastened. This is a painful topic for me. Now, without question, all four of my children travel in car seats.”

Fatal Statistics

In 2019, Arsen Torosyan announced the commencement of statistical data collection on injuries and fatalities among children. He noted that even though they lack comprehensive national statistics, global ones would inform their policy.

“For example, if a child under the age of four is seated in the correct car seat, it reduces the risk of traumatic injuries by 50% when the car seat is positioned in the front, next to the driver’s seat,” Torosyan stated. “If the car seat is in the back, the risk reduces by 80%. The numbers are simply shocking.”

Road traffic injuries represent a serious public health issue, being a leading cause of death and injury globally. The use of child restraints and seat belts can reduce car accident fatalities by up to 71% among young children. The World Health Organization’s guidelines discuss in detail the dynamics of an accident, the role of a car seat or a seat belt, the research conducted, and its findings.

Car seats designed for children aged four to seven can reduce injury risk by 59% compared to using only seat belts. Children are safest when using age-appropriate car seats. However, if these are unavailable, using an adult seat belt for a child sitting in the back is still better than leaving the child unrestrained. Accordingly, the use of suitable and correctly fitted child restraints can reduce child mortality by at least 60%.

Armenian Police statistics reveal the following: in 2019, seven children under 12 were killed and 425 injured in traffic accidents;  in 2020, 12 were killed and 359 were injured; in 2021, nine  were killed and 423 injured; in 2022, 13 were killed and 451 injured; and in 2023, 13 were killed and 458 were injured.

It is worth noting that over the last three years, there’s been an increase, or at the very least no change, in the number of accidents, victims and injuries (with data for 2023 calculated for the first 10 months). However, recorded violations have been decreasing annually. For instance, in 2019, the Traffic Police recorded 696 violations of laws relating to the transportation of children under 12, but in 2023, only 226 were registered.

Despite the Traffic Police not maintaining statistics on the causes of traffic accidents involving children under 12 or why the ISOFIX child restraint system isn’t widely used, it’s evident that more than four years after the car seat decision was passed, their use is not widespread for several reasons.

There Is No Place Safer Than in a Mother’s Arms

In March 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) Foundation, and other partners launched an updated manual to encourage decision-makers to increase the use of life-saving vehicle occupant restraints, such as seat-belts and car seats. The manual also highlights research into the reasons for not using car seats and explores these reasons. While there appears to be no research conducted in Armenia, several common reasons for not using car seats exist. 

Many drivers and parents cite technical considerations claiming that their cars are a key obstacle to not using car seats. Concerns often revolve around whether a car can accommodate more than two children, whether it has the necessary systems installed, and whether it is compatible with certain types of car seats.

Anna Avetisyan acknowledges the technical issue of using car seats for more than three children. So, while planning for their fourth child, she and her husband also considered getting a larger car.

Hayk, a father of three children under the age of five, has never used any child restraint systems. Despite having heard about the law, he was not aware that it was in effect. According to him, fitting three car seats in an average car is challenging. Moreover,  older cars may not have suitable places for installing modern car seats.

“This means if you need a car seat, you have to go with your car, take each car seat model, and try them one by one,” he explains. “Not everyone does that.”

Cost is another reason some people don’t use car seats. After the car seat regulation was adopted, debates about their price often resurface whenever the topic is revisited. It becomes a contentious issue for families with multiple children who need several car seats. But Anna holds a different perspective on this matter.

“Many people claim that car seats are costly, but in my opinion, nothing can be more expensive than your child’s safety,” she says. “Indeed, not everyone in Armenia lives in good social conditions. However, if you can afford a car, I believe you can find a way to buy a car seat by cutting back on your expenses a little.”

One reason cited for not using car seats is a child’s capricious behavior.

Anna initially faced challenges when using car seats. However, her children adapted over time.

“Around the age of one, they went through a capricious stage: at times they didn’t want to sit in their car seats; they preferred to be on my lap. However, we kept them busy until we reached our destination. After one, two or three attempts, they adjusted to it,” says Anna, emphasizing that she set strict rules from the outset. “If we have to travel somewhere by car, then there is no other option; if you don’t get in the car seat you won’t come along. This is one of those issues on which you should not compromise because, first and foremost, it concerns their life and safety.”

Anna says that when a child is in a car seat or buckled in with a seat belt, the parent also feels more at ease.

“When they are without a seat belt, let’s say we are going somewhere by taxi and there is no possibility for a seat belt, you are tense the whole ride constantly telling the children to ‘sit down, don’t get up, don’t lie down,’” she explains. “But with a seat belt, everyone remains seated, and you can relax knowing the seat belts are on.”

However, the biggest concern and challenge in Armenia regarding the use of car seats relates to taxis. It’s challenging to find taxis equipped with safety features. Two major online taxi services used to offer rides with car seats when the rule was initially implemented, but these either cost more than the standard fare or took a long time to arrive. However, this option is no longer available.

“You have to order a taxi in the morning so that at least in the afternoon you can find a car with a car seat option, and even those are only upright car seats,” says Anna. “If the child is under the age of one and needs a semi-reclined car seat, it is almost impossible to find one at all. Taxi drivers usually don’t even know that the car seat needs to be reinforced, and the existing ones are mostly just for show.”

Hayk also expresses concern about the legal regulation of this issue.

“Let’s say the police stop a car and see a child in the taxi,” he explains. “The police officer asks whose child it is. The driver responds that it’s his passenger’s. Then the officer asks why the child isn’t in a car seat, and the taxi driver gets in trouble. Who is to blame in this situation?’

Hayk believes that ensuring taxis are equipped with car seats is a crucial step in solving this issue, given the frequent use of these vehicles.

“Most taxi drivers are self-employed and own their own cars,” he explains. “If they understand the importance of using a seat-belt for a child, and realize that they can charge an extra 100 AMD for providing a car seat, they will definitely install a car seat in their car or keep one in their trunk.”

Aside from the unresolved technical issues, there is also a mindset problem.

The saying “There is nowhere safer than in a mother’s arms” is frequently used when discussing the use of car seats or seat-belts. Some drivers take offense when a passenger tries to fasten their seatbelt, interpreting it as a lack of confidence in their driving skills.

“When my son was born, we already had a newborn car seat,” says Anna. “He was discharged from the hospital in his car seat, and from then on, he was always in it while in the car. This also applies to my other child. I believe this is necessary. It is not a frivolity as some people describe it, asking, ‘How did we survive without car seats?’” She adds that traffic wasn’t as heavy in the past, cars did not drive as fast, and there weren’t as many on the roads. “I hope one day we will reach the point where parents understand that this is mandatory. Just like feeding and giving water to a child, using car seats should be viewed as a necessity,” she explains.

Raising awareness about this issue, developing campaigns, and strictly enforcing the law are all strategies envisioned to ensure the widespread use of car seats.

Hayk believes that it is not just about convincing people that car seats are a desirable accessory, but a necessity for the child’s life and health. “The fact that car seats are more effective and safer than the usual seat-belt in a car should be demonstrated.”

Anna notes that seeing children sitting in the front seat of a car, without seat-belts or on their parents’ laps, indicates the futility of relying on parents’ common sense. In her opinion, the only option is to “hit them where it hurts most — their wallets.” 

Hayk asserts that strict enforcement of the law can encourage the use of car seats.

“So far, I haven’t seen anyone getting fined for not having a seat in the car,” he says. “I don’t know if the law will work through force, persuasion, or other means, but if a person feels they may be fined, they will certainly address this issue. Every person begins to seek solutions if the threat of a financial penalty is looming.”

Although the matter of car seats is frequently addressed and debated by authorities and the public alike, it’s evident that the issue has not been fully resolved. While there are no specific statistics in Armenia, the numbers of accidents involving children are alarming. Effective deployment of car seats might help reduce these figures.

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