Armenian roads to undergo safety check

All Armenia's roads will undergo safety checks in the framework of a pilot program of the National Road Safety Board, said Head of the Secretariat of the Board, Poghos Shahinyan, on Friday, ARKA reports.

2,000 road accidents were registered in Armenia in 2009, resulting in 325 casualties. 2,202 road accidents were registered in 2008, with 407 deaths.

The World Bank and the Armenian Ministry of Transport and Communications conduct activities stipulated in the “Secure Villages” program. The aim of this program is to raise Armenia's road security levels to international standards, which envisages the introduction of several innovations – new types of artificial obstacles for reducing the speed of cars near schools, special raised platforms for pedestrians, etc.

The National Road Safety Board was established at the initiative of nongovernmental organizations. The discussions resulted in a national strategy program, approved by the Government, which became the first experience of solutions to traffic problems in Armenia.