Armenia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) will soon begin recording administrative violations committed inside vehicles, including the use of mobile phones while driving. The announcement was made by Deputy Interior Minister Armen Mkrtchyan during preliminary discussions of the 2025 state budget implementation report in the National Assembly.

Mkrtchyan noted that talking on a mobile phone while driving, and especially sending messages, poses a serious safety risk. Combined with other violations, such as speeding, it can lead to severe consequences, Factor.am reported.

“This is also a matter of safety culture. We have a technically equipped patrol vehicle that we will deploy this year. It will monitor vehicles with 360-degree coverage. Last year, we recorded about 40,000 cases of mobile phone use while driving, while this year we have already registered 19,000. However, these violations will continue unless we build the proper safety culture among drivers,” he said.

According to the deputy minister, the new patrol vehicles, equipped with enhanced technical capabilities, will be able to conduct comprehensive monitoring and document instances of drivers using mobile phones while operating vehicles.

He stressed that the long-term solution is not limited to enforcement measures alone but also requires the development of a stronger road safety culture.

Mkrtchyan also reported that approximately 5,500 administrative reports were issued in 2026 for transporting children without proper child safety seats, according to 1lurer.am.

“We have issued twice as many reports as last year. In other words, enforcement has become stricter. But I must repeat that this is a type of violation that people must understand is directly connected to their own lives or to the lives and health of their children and loved ones,” he said.