EU-supported baseline study on seat belt use in Armenia

At the end of January, the Eastern Partnership Road Safety Observatory (EaP RSO), an EU-funded joint initiative of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine, presented a baseline study on seat belt use in Armenia. 

The results of the study confirmed that seat belt wearing and car seat use in Armenia is relatively low, particularly among back seat passengers.

The study found Armenia to have good seat belt and car seat legislation, which aligns with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) standards. Though it was noted that small amendments such as including the recommended maximum height of children for car seat use and increasing penalties for non-compliance could be strengthened.

Stronger enforcement, public awareness, technical inspections, and systematic monitoring of seat belt and car seat use were also recommended as important steps in improving usage rates. 

The study also found that drivers can be key influencers in ensuring seat belt use amongst their passengers with a significantly higher proportion of passengers wearing seat belts when the driver is also belted. Such insight and analysis can prove useful in developing campaigns and enforcement strategies that are effective and sustainable, the study says.

The study was implemented by MC Mobility Consultants and included a legislative review and observational roadside and vehicle inspection surveys, along with targeted training for law enforcement officers on 29 January 2026.  

The methodology developed by MC Mobility Consultants for Armenia can also be used in other countries where drivers and passengers neglect to use seat belts.

The Eastern Partnership Road Safety Observatory is a joint initiative of the five Eastern Partnership countries – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine – with the common goal of reducing road casualties by 50% by 2030. The initiative houses country-level data and acts as a catalyst to strengthen national road safety data collection, management and analysis. The initiative is funded by the EU, as part of the global network of regional Road Safety Observatories supported by the World Bank.

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