Road safety and accident prevention in the Republic of Armenia. The necessity of the demerit system in the RA

Abstract

Appropriate road safety policy is one of the essential elements of a harmonious traffic rules and regulation. A “human catastrophe” is the description frequently made of the global traffic safety situation. The World Health Organization (WHO) projects that by 2030, the fifth most common reason for loss of health will be an injury generated within the road transport system. This forecast is not only catastrophic, but also tragic since most of these deaths can be avoided or, at the very least, dramatically decreased. According to ISO (International Organization for Standardization) studies, over 90 % of the deaths in road accidents occur in low-income and middle-income countries. Does this mean that developing countries have poor traffic rules, or poor and bad roads, or wicked and corrupt State officials, or disadvantageous or drunk drivers? The answer is not simple, since it is important to look at all components of the system as a whole, for the reason that every part matters. Nonetheless, most importantly is to realize the sense: «what could have been done to prevent road traffic deaths and injuries”? It is essential to realize that so called “human catastrophe” can be preventable and avoidable.