Improving Road Safety in Azerbaijan

The first four-day mission of the EU-funded twinning project “Improving Road Safety in Azerbaijan,” Activity 1.1.1 “Gap Assessment Report and Recommendations for Road Safety Acts and Road Maps with Clear Time to Implement Assessment Report Recommendations” took place from 20^th to 23^rd of February, 2023.

This mission was an important step in the project’s efforts to improve road safety in Azerbaijan. Freight and passenger transportation, vehicle safety requirements, vehicle maintenance systems, electric and autonomous vehicles are important areas to consider in the context of road safety. During the mission, experts from the Lithuanian Transport Safety Administration, the Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Lithuania and the Regional Transport Inspectorate of the Republic of Poland focused on various areas of legislation related to road safety.

It was very important that all interested parties participated in the discussions, which provided an opportunity to look at a wide range of perspectives. Therefore, Polish and Lithuanian experts participating in the mission had the opportunity to meet with institutions and organizations in Azerbaijan that have a direct or indirect impact on road safety.

By engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, including the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Agriculture, the State Customs Commission, the Baku Transport Agency, the Azerbaijan Land Transport Agency, and through a detailed analysis of the legal acts of the Republic of Azerbaijan and a comparison with EU regulations, the experts gained a comprehensive understanding of the current situation and identified potential areas for improvement. Such activities will help ensure that the legal framework in Azerbaijan is up-to-date and effective in promoting and complying with road safety.

The goal of this mission was to contribute to the development of a clear road map for improving road safety in Azerbaijan. By working with institutions and organizations in the beneficiary country, the experts were able to develop a practical plan that took into account the country’s specific needs and challenges. This is an important step toward achieving the project’s overall goal of reducing the number of road accidents, especially those resulting in death or serious health injuries and socioeconomic damage.