37 Pedestrian Crossings with Call Button Traffic Lights to be Installed in 2020

The provision of safe traffic in the capital is a priority for the city government. To provide a systematic solution to this issue, the Yerevan City Hall implemented several programs in 2019. One of these programs was to equip crossings with traffic lights that operate with a pedestrian call button.

This was reported by the City Hall’s Information and Public Relations Department.

“Considering the recent transport accidents and the overall increase in vehicle numbers, the mayor instructed to inventory and study the potential hotspots where pedestrian accidents with fatalities have occurred last year and to take measures. In this case, the installation of traffic lights operating with a pedestrian call button was initiated,” stated Edgar Galstyan, acting head of the transport department of the Yerevan City Hall.

Within the framework of the program, last year, 7 pedestrian crossings were equipped with such traffic lights across different administrative districts of the capital. According to the Law on Local Self-Government, the regulation of road traffic, particularly the installation of traffic lights and road markings, is the delegated authority of the mayor; however, since 2009, these functions have been delegated to the Road Police service by a government decision. Accordingly, the budget is also allocated to the road police.

The scope of the program has significantly increased in 2020. This year, 37 pedestrian crossings will be regulated by traffic signals activated by pedestrians. “The crossings equipped with pedestrian call button traffic lights have proven effective. Naturally, it will be impossible to install them every 100 meters, and I think we should call on pedestrians to cross only in the marked areas where it is allowed for pedestrian crossing,” noted Sergey Ghahramanyan, the head of the NGO ‘Road Traffic Safety and Control’.

A week ago, there was active discussion on social media about the tragic accident that occurred on Shiraz Street, which claimed the life of a 10-year-old schoolboy. Unfortunately, this was not an isolated incident, as Armenia has one of the highest rates of road fatalities in Europe. Regardless of who is to blame in a particular incident—the reckless driver, the inattentive pedestrian, the road infrastructure responsible, or an unfortunate coincidence—one thing is clear: this cannot continue for long.

“In addition to inventorying the dangerous points in Yerevan, we should also conduct a separate inventory of all schools, kindergartens, and other educational institutions and cultural centers visited by children. We need to compile a separate list to prioritize and address these areas as well. The safety of our citizens, especially the safety of children, is our number one issue today. Beyond that, we have no other issues to solve here,” emphasized Mayor Hayk Marutyan.

Alongside pedestrian call button-controlled crossings, citizens will also encounter specially equipped mannequin crossings on the streets of Yerevan. The idea belongs to Byuzand Baghdasaryan. His proposal will be implemented thanks to the ‘Active Citizen’ platform initiated by the Mayor of Yerevan.

“The idea arose when I was in Paris. I was driving, and it felt like a child was about to run into the street. When the proposal for the ‘Active Citizen’ initiative came from the municipality, I tried to utilize that thought and suggested it. I am glad the project passed and will be implemented. I believe that soon there will be those mannequins near our streets close to schools,” said Byuzand Baghdasaryan.