From April 1, 2018 will be prohibited import of vehicles with right-hand drive to Armenia

ArmInfo. From April 1, 2018,  the import of right-handed vehicles to Armenia will be banned. As  early as October 1, the ban will operate within the requirements of  the technical regulations of the Customs Union. On February 9, the  Armenian Parliament approved the bill "On a temporary ban on the  import of vehicles with right-hand steering" received public  recognition.

According to the First Deputy Minister of Transport, Communication  and Information Technologies of the Republic of Armenia Gagik  Grigoryan, according to the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic of 1968  and the Law of the Republic of Armenia "On Road Safety", a right-hand  traffic of vehicles was installed on the roads of Armenia. Within the  framework of this principle, the rules of the road for vehicles with  left-hand steering are established.

Traffic signs, traffic lights are also installed taking into account  the perception of drivers of vehicles with left-hand drive.  "Consequently, the operation of right-hand drive vehicles poses a  threat to road traffic, creates risks for road accidents," the deputy  minister said, again referring to traffic accident statistics  involving right-hand drive cars, which were 28% more likely to crash,  and the number of affected owners of such vehicles more cars by 39%.  The deputy minister said that the owners of the right-hand drive  vehicles will have time to move the rudders.

As Grigoryan noted, the current draft law proposes a temporary  solution for complete solution of the problem: from April 1 to  October 1, 2018, a ban on import of vehicles with right-hand drive is  to be introduced in Armenia. This provision will be in force until  appropriate additions are made to the decision of the Eurasian  Economic Commission of 9 December 2011 "On the Adoption of the  Technical Regulation of the Customs Union" On the Safety of Wheeled  Vehicles "No. 877 and the addition of a list of countries that  prohibit the use of vehicles with right-hand drive. At the same time,  the deputy minister stressed that this restriction will not affect  the existing car owners - they can exploit, register, register,  transfer reregistrate their cars.

Experts call cunning that the ban on imports of right-hand drive  vehicles is associated with the need to ensure safety on the roads.  According to the data of the RA Road Police, 2,553 road accidents  were registered in Armenia in 2017, of which 253 accidents occurred  with the participation of right-hand drive vehicles, which is only  10% of the total number of traffic violations.