Three Pedestrian Accidents Daily, Every Tenth Fatal: Hetq

In 2024, Armenia recorded 1,079 pedestrian accidents, resulting in 107 fatalities and 1,065 injuries. This means an average of three accidents occur daily, with every tenth resulting in death. This is reported by Hetq.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, pedestrian accidents mainly occur due to crossing in unauthorized areas. However, this statistic does not deter people from continuing to cross roads in prohibited places. As of August 15, 2025, there are still an average of three accidents every day, with one person dying every 16 accidents.

In 2024, the Patrol Service documented 19,410 violations of pedestrian crossing rules in Yerevan and the regions. During a brief tour with Senior Lieutenant Narek Mkrtchyan in downtown Yerevan, several violations were captured by our camera.

“Initially, we try to warn and urge people not to cross the road, but there are citizens who do not heed this warning and cross anyway; at that point, we have to issue a report,” notes Senior Lieutenant Mkrtchyan.

Since August 2 of this year, the fine for crossing the street in an unintended area has doubled. Previously, the administrative penalty was set at five thousand drams, which is five times the minimum wage; starting August 2, the fine has increased to ten thousand drams.

“The increase in fines aims to make citizens more aware and urge them to refrain as much as possible from committing violations, as it is a very dangerous infraction. When crossing the road in unauthorized areas, drivers do not have the opportunity to notice pedestrians, thus the consequence is often an accident,” emphasizes Mkrtchyan.

According to Mkrtchyan, public awareness of this issue has risen, and the number of people crossing at incorrect places is gradually decreasing. This is also evidenced by a reduction in recorded violations of pedestrian crossing rules in Yerevan in 2025.

In the first eight months of 2025, pedestrian violations in Yerevan have decreased by approximately 5.5 times compared to the entire year of 2024.

If the citizen does not have identification documents at the time of the report, the Patrol Service uses specialized equipment for identification. “The equipment is equipped with a recognition feature, identifying the individual through a camera, capturing their image, and the personal data is then uploaded for verification. Individuals aged 16 and older are considered offenders and subject to fines. However, if they are under 15, we provide a warning and seek to ensure that the violation does not recur in the future,” says the Senior Lieutenant.

The total amount of fines collected has also decreased. By August 15, 2025, the amount of fines entered into the state budget was six times less than in 2024.

The press secretary of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Narek Sargsyan, mentions that the ministry regularly publishes informative videos to reduce the number of pedestrian accidents. During their duties, patrol officers inform citizens that pedestrians are participants in traffic and must adhere to established rules.

Starting September 1, schools have also commenced a series of meetings entitled “Law-Abiding Pedestrian,” during which patrol officers and community police engage with students in preventive and informative discussions, including the rules of crossing streets.