Number of victims of traffic accidents decreases

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS: During the 10 months of the running year the number of road accidents increased by 19, the number of victims decreased by 38 but in general during the last two year the number of accidents reduced by 200-250 cases. Armenpress news agency spoke with the head of the road department of the RA police Norik Sargsyan about the steps undertaken for reducing the number of road accidents.

- In parallel with the increase of the number of imported cars, during the last few years the number of not only accidents reduced but the victims too. How did you manage to register such results?

- Not only the strict administration brought to the reduction of the number of accidents but also continuative and right media coverage. The role of journalists in the implementation of the reforms in the road transport sphere is big as one program or coverage has greater impact than various administrative fines applied by us. In general, we have put an aim while summing up this year to have 50 victims less than during the previous one. In any case in the current situation having 300 victims annually is very many and we all have a lot to do in this respect.

- You have noted that while implementing reforms in the sphere the coverage of reporters had a significant role. Will you explain?

- For already a year we are working with reporters and are trying to do everything possible to reduce the violation of traffic rules both by pedestrians and drivers. Only during the last year we formed 675 000 declarations in case of having 300 000-350 000 drivers. It means that during one year for each driver two declarations were formed while in 2005 only 125 000 declarations were formed.

In 2003-2008 unprecedented growth of road accidents was registered and annually the number of victims was increasing by 50. Since 2008 we managed with the help of journalists register reduction of cases of road accidents and their consequences. In 2009 we managed to reduce the cases by 200, number of injured by 372, number of victims by 82.

- Mr Sargsyan, very often the crosswalks intended for pedestrians are located far. Do you intend to add new ones?

- During this year we have studied the road-street network as a result 19 new crosswalks have been added. Currently as well the whole scheme of capital’s traffic is being studied and new crosswalks may be added.

- Observing the sphere before and after the reforms what can you register? Which are the achievements of the sphere?

- The reforms in the road police sphere launched from 2007. Necessary modern technical devices have been acquired and this change of quality has given its positive results. Starting from 2009 we managed to stop the tendency of increasing road accidents and number of victims.

In my opinion our traffic rules are perfect, it is just necessary to increase the level of awareness both among pedestrians and drivers. Everyone must try to be guided by traffic rules, respect each other. We will reach the expected result if everyone realizes his/her role as a participant of traffic and try to be conceding toward each other.