«Fact». Drivers Will Be Fined for Not Clearing the Road after an Accident

«Fact» newspaper reports that the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures has recently presented a draft for public discussion, proposing amendments and additions to the Law on Ensuring Road Traffic Safety.

The draft states that the need for changes in both this law and the Administrative Offenses Code is driven by the necessity to eliminate traffic congestion. The provisions of this draft aim to restore the passageway on the road as quickly as possible after traffic accidents.

In particular, if a citizen becomes a participant in a road traffic accident, they must immediately stop their vehicle, activate the hazard lights as per traffic regulations, and not relocate either the vehicle or any objects related to the accident. If there are casualties or injuries as a result of the accident, it is imperative to take immediate steps to provide first aid to the injured, call for emergency medical assistance or other specialized services, and notify the police. In extreme cases, they should transport the injured to the nearest medical facility using their vehicle, providing their information upon arrival, after which they should return to the scene of the accident.

The proposal stipulates that if the transportation of the vehicle is possible, the roadway must be cleared within 20 minutes after notifying the police, and the positions of the vehicles relative to each other and engineering structures should be documented using video or photographic devices. Measures should also be taken to preserve evidence related to the accident and organize circumvention of the scene, along with recording the names and addresses of witnesses while waiting for the police to arrive. Exceptions are made for cases where the transportation of the vehicle is impossible.

In addition to amending the Law on Ensuring Road Traffic Safety, the draft also proposes an addition to the Administrative Offenses Code of the Republic of Armenia. Specifically, a driver who fails to clear the roadway after a traffic accident, without criminal liability, will face a fine equivalent to ten times the minimum wage.

More details will be available in today's issue of the newspaper.