Moldovan parliament approves new measures for enhancing road safety in Moldova

The parliament has passed, in second reading, a draft enhancing the regulatory framework for road safety and road infrastructure management. The legislative initiative, developed by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development (MIDR), was supported by 56 MPs and is part of the Economic Growth Programme, which includes essential reforms for the implementation of the national road safety programme.

The legislative amendments aim to increase the safety of traffic on public roads, prevent accidents and reduce the loss of human lives, bodily injuries and material damages caused by road incidents.

Under the new provisions, the National Auto Transport Agency (ANTA) will get expanded powers, becoming responsible for managing road infrastructure as well. ANTA will conduct periodic inspections in the field of road safety, develop reports on necessary intervention measures and ensure the proper work of the national council for road traffic security.

The draft also stipulates that, in all phases of designing, executing, and intervening on roads, the recommendations from audit reports and road safety impact assessments must be observed. National and local road administrators will be required to consider these reports and ensure safe conditions for traffic. At the same time, the law clearly states that all roads will be part of the Public Roads Register, which will contain essential information regarding the location, state and conditions of each road segment.

"The new regulations are meant to improve the institutional efficiency and enhance the responsibility of the actors involved in managing road infrastructure, thus contributing to risk reduction and enhancing safety for all traffic participants," said MIDR.

At present, Moldova has over 10,670 kilometers of public roads, of which about 5,900 km are national roads, 3,700 km - regional roads and 1,070 km are located in the region on the left bank of Dniester.