168 Fatalities, 3186 Injured: Road Accident Statistics in Armenia Over the Past 6 Months

2169 road traffic accidents, 168 fatalities, and 3186 injured. This is the statistic for the past 6 months. In some cases, drivers were under the influence of alcohol. Many would still be alive if drivers did not exhibit excessive self-confidence after consuming alcohol and got behind the wheel. Each saved life would be a gain.

Measures to detect intoxicated drivers are regularly organized in the capital by officers of the patrol service of the Yerevan battalion, and in the regions by the second police battalion of the road police. Various penalties are imposed on individuals driving under the influence of alcohol. For instance, driving a vehicle in an intoxicated state results in a fine of 150,000 drams. If the driver's blood alcohol content exceeds 1 gram per liter or if the alcohol content in one liter of exhaled air exceeds 0.5 milligrams, the driver is deprived of the right to drive for 1 year. If a driver avoids examination to determine sobriety, they are deprived of the right to drive for 2 years. If a person deprived of their driving rights drives again while intoxicated or refuses to undergo sobriety testing, they can face criminal liability.

Administrative and criminal coercive measures are tools to combat this evil, but they are not the best solution. Experience shows that some drivers continue to drive after consuming alcohol even after being fined. The best way to combat this is through constant self-monitoring, not exhibiting undue self-confidence, and understanding that an intoxicated driver is a potential criminal. Dear drivers, be careful, do not get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol, and strictly adhere to this vital traffic safety requirement; it is in everyone's interest.