Armenian premier instructs police to tighten grip upon traffic

YEREVAN, July 11. /ARKA/. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan spoke Thursday before a regular Cabinet meeting about the recent traffic accidents in which Armenian citizens were killed. “All of you know that a new law is prepared to strip those drivers who are periodically breaching traffic rules from their licenses,” he said. “And we are going to discuss with the parliament ways for adopting it as soon as possible.”

Pashinyan said it is necessary to provide an opportunity to citizens to call the traffic police when they see illegalities.

The premier also instructed Police Chief Valeri Osipyan to tighten grip upon traffic and punish offenders strictly.   

“The recent events show that there can’t be any tolerance here, since this applies to security and lives of our children and citizens,” he said. 

Osipyan, on his side, confirmed that the number of traffic accidents is growing. 

“We are doing whatever is possible,” he said. “I don’t rule out that there are faults in our activity, things are not limited to the police’s actions. The problem is also caused by poor lightening of roads and technical examination of cars, which is carried out just to check the box or is not carried out at all.”

Very often, he said, car importers are care only of cars’ appearance, neglecting dilapidated interior parts. 
Osipyan also pointed out unprecedented increase in the number of imported cars. In his words, more than 120,000 vehicles have been brought to the country since 2017. 

Transport, Communication and Information Technology Minister Hakob Arshakyan said that a proposal is being prepared now to prohibit the use of cars with technical disorders.   

Pashinyan said that it is impossible to solve all problems with one move – it is possible to solve them in a package and with the well thought-out strategy and roadmap. -0---