The Road Safety Performance Review – Case of Albania

Albania is a Constitutional Parliamentary Republic located in the Southeastern Europe. It is bordered by land with Montenegro in the north west, north east Kosovo, Northern Macedonia in the east, and Greece in east south and south region. Albania has a coastline of 450 km kilometers alongside Adriatic and the Ionian Sea in the west side which separates it from Italy via the Strait of Otranto (72 km). Most of Albania’s surface is mountainous. The average height above sea level is 708 m. Mount Korab on the Northern Macedonian border, is the highest peak at 2.753 m. The Road Safety Performance –Follow Up – Case of Albania

Inflation Percent change 2,37 2,94 3,36 2,25 3,61 3,43 2,04 1,93 1,63 1,90 Unemployment Percent of total labor force 13,8 13,4 13,1 13,8 14,0 14,0 13,4 16,0 17,5 17,1 rate

Population in millions 2,99 2,97 2,95 2,93 2,91 2,91 2,90 2,90 2,89 2,89

National debt Percent of GDP 56,69 53,55 55,14 59,67 57,72 59,41 62,14 70,39 72,04 73,32

500000 600000 400000 500000 TOTAL NUMBER OF VEHICLES 400000 300000 700,000 300000 600,000 200000 200000 500,000 100000 100000 400,000 0 0 300,000 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 200,000 100,000 Cars Trucks and Vans 0 Motorcycles Road vehicles 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Transposition of International Regulations and Agreements

• Road Vehicles • Guideline no 3616/3, of 20.07.2017 • Agreement concerning the Adoption of Uniform Technical Prescriptions for Wheeled Vehicles, “On rules for implementation of the Equipment and Parts which can be fitted and /or be used on Wheeled Vehicles and the Conditions for intelligent systems in field of road Reciprocal Recognition of Approvals Granted on the Basis of these Prescriptions, of 20 March 1958, (date of accession of Albania- 6 September 2011). transport and connection with other • Agreement concerning the Adoption of Uniform modes of transport”, Conditions for Periodical Technical Inspections of Wheeled Vehicles and the Reciprocal Recognition of Such Inspections, of 13 November 1997, (date of accession of Albania- 22 December 2004) • Guideline no 446 of 10.05.2018 “On categorization, conditions which should • Transport of Dangerous Goods accomplish the bus terminal, • European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR), of 30 authorization, and manner of September 1957, (date of accession of Albania- 26 January 2005) documentation holding, tariffs and • Protocol amending article 1 (a), article 14 (1) and article 14 (3) (b) of the European Agreement of 30 other obligations of the bus terminal”. September 1957 concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR), of 28 October 1993, (date of accession of Albania- 9 March 2006). • Guideline no 328 of 20.01.2017 “On detailed rules for the list of data, which • Transport of Perishable Foodstuff are kept in the national electronic • Agreement on the International Carriage of Perishable Foodstuffs and on the Special Equipment register on road transport to be used for such Carriage (ATP), of 1 September 1970, (date of accession of Albania- 26 January undertakings”. The Guideline 2005). approximates the Article 16(1) of Regulation (EC) no 1071/2009 • Institutional Setup for road safety

Consultant Service for Road Safety Technical Assistance

• Institutional Setup for road safety • Technical Secretariat as Lead Office • Under preparation the ToR of the Lead Office • The Lead Office might be under the Prime Minister Office Strategic Approach and National Strategies on Road Safety • Albania has embraced the • The recent Albanian philosophy of “Vision Transport Sector Zero“as it pointed out in Albanian Road Safety Strategy and the Review Strategy. The strategic of the Albanian National goal is to reduce the Plan maintain the same fatalities at long term by philosophy raleted the 50 %, an objective fully Road Safety compatible with EU objectives and the accepted standards by all SEETO members. Institution Bodies linked to road safety Road Safety Management Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy • Road Safety Sector • General Directorate of Road Transport Services

• Albanian Road Authority

• Institute of Transport • The Inter-Ministerial Road Safety Ministry of Interior • Traffic Police Directorate In the new Road Safety Set- Ministry of Education and Science --- Committee is the highest organ for up , the Lead Office will Ministry of Health and Social Protection • Health Centers road safety policy and strategic work • National Emergency Medical Center in Albania have the leadership role. • Emergency Response Albania Ministry of Justice --- Ministry of Finance --- • Technical Secretariat for the IMRSC • Coordination Municipalities and Communes --- Private sector • Insurance Company Association of Albania (Former Directorate of Road Safety Professional associations • Road Transport Professional associations: and Traffic -DRST) • Legislation - National Association of Urban Transport • The Road Police has a key role both in • Funding and resource - Driver Unions 4+1 enforcement and promotion of road - Intercity Transport Union allocation - Intercity Transport Association safety - Association of International Transport of Travelers • The Albanian Road Authority (ARA) • Promotion • Other associations: and its subordinate agencies, have a - Association of Auto schools in Albania key role dealing with road • Monitoring and - Association of Auto-technical Experts evaluation - Association of Experts, Reconstructionist and Accident Valuers engineering - The Engineering Bureau of Professional Road Safety Experts and Accidents • The General Directorate of Road • Research and - Association of Auto-technical Experts - National Accident Assistance Association Transport Services (GDRTS) deals with development and Civil Society • Non-Governmental Organisations: vehicle registration, technical knowledge transfer - Automobile Club Albania

inspection and the issuing of driver - Association of Victims of Road Crashes

licenses - Civil Association of Road Safety and Environment

- Association of Victims of Road Crashes Road Safety Management

• Administration • Black Spot • Works for elimination of black spots and implementation of road • Reduction of Black Spots ITS will continue as per the targets from 191 year 2017 to 163 set in the Transport Strategy and year 2019. its Action Plan • It is underway the implementation of road ITS as per the targets set in the Transport Strategy and its • Road safety funding Action Plan • Earmarked funding should be exclusively used for road safety programs and projects. Information on funding must be publicly available. • Road safety funding • Provide incentives and funding from the central budget on • There are initiatives within competitive basis to interventions the ARA reform to Earmark targeting safety interventions. the road funding which will give more funds used for road safety programs and projects. Road Infrastructure over the last 15 years

Road Network Length (in km) • The length of the Main Road Network is Main Roads 3400 Regional roads 4411 increasing every year. Rural Roads 4980 Urban Roads 2500 • Albanian Government is still investing in the Total 15291 development of National and Rural Road Network Road Safety Indicators

Accidents 2009-2019 3000 Number of fatalities from 2009 to 2019 is reduced by almost 40% 2500

2000

1500

1000

500

0 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Fatal 378 352 322 334 295 264 270 269 222 213 227 Injured 1462 1716 2150 2235 2503 2353 2422 2510 2389 2030 1817 Accidents by Road Users Year 2019

1800 1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 Motorcycli Cyclist Pedestrian Passenger Driver Other st Not injured 2 8 53 117 1242 5 Slightly injured 80 372 238 511 346 10 Heavy injured 26 77 43 52 58 4 Killed 24 82 32 49 38 2 Recommendation –Crash Database System

• Improve the accident data statistics related to filling the information for some of the variables • Alcohol Data -17% missing • It is proposed the implementation of a new road • Use of seat belt – 46% crash and data analysis system based on the • Vehicle Defects – 85% missing Common Accident Data Set (CADaS) requirements. • Urban vs Rural very unclear • Intermediate indicators of Road Safety performance on the network • Main improvements should focus on: • The platform to monitor the level of enforcement of dangerous • Data accessibility from stakeholders other than Traffic road user behavior such as driving at excessive speed, car Police. occupants not using seat belt and supervision and enforcement of drunken driving is very important factor contributing in the • Compliance with recommended CADaS datasets (both in reduction of accident risk. The Traffic Police have to conduct terms of variables and of values for each variable). surveys which shows the level of enforcement of user behavior. • Possibility of collecting some of the variables by linking the • In depth study crash database with other databases on drivers and vehicles • There are not in depth studies conducted by the Traffic Police in Albania. The aim of in depth study is to find the chain of events causing the accident. The traffic Police together with an appointed institution have to carry out such studies in order to have immediate remedy actions. Safer Road Network

Road Network Length (in km) Main Roads 3400 Year 2019 Regional roads 4411 1800 Rural Roads 4980 1600 Urban Roads 2500 1400 1200 Total 15291 1000 800

120.0% 600 400 100.0% 200 0 Killed Heavy injured Slightly injured Not injured 80.0% Speed off limit 149 138 836 770 Speed in limit Speed in limit 77 122 721 657 60.0% Speed off limit 40.0% Not known

20.0%

0.0% 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Safer Road Network

• National Road Network • Standards • Land Use Planning • Urban Road Network • Road Signing and Marking • Intelligent Transportation Systems • Road Works Zone Recommendation -Safer Road Network

• The preparation of the Road safety inspection • The Road Safety Inspection Guideline is already Guidelines; prepared • The preparation of a Road Access Guideline which describes how the secondary roads and • The preparation of a speed limit manual services have to be linked with the main national network; • There are positive developments related to the implementation of the road works zone traffic • The preparation of Design Standards for Streets; schemes • The preparation of a speed limit manual; • Law enforcement regarding implementation of the road works zone traffic schemes; • The training of Police Department and Construction Companies with the Albanian Road Code rules and regulation related to the Road Works Zone Recommendation -Safer Road Network

• Revision of the road code One of the Tirana SUMP regarding proposals is the revision of the Albanian Road Code related • Driver’s behavior approaching • Driver’s behavior approaching pedestrian crossing pedestrian crossing • Zone 30 are urban areas with speed limit of 30 km/hour • Zone 30 are urban areas with speed limit of 30 km/hour Safer Vehicles

• The Albanian Legislation is based on the following EU Directives • Directive 2007/46 of 5 September 2007 establishing a framework for the approval of motor vehicles and their trailers , and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles; • Directive 2002/24 of 18 March 2002 relating to the type-approval of two or three-wheel motor vehicles ; • Directive 2003/37 of 26 May 2003 on type-approval of agricultural or forestry tractors, their trailers and interchangeable towed machinery, together with their systems, components and separate technical units Safer Vehicles

• The technical inspection is • It is still the same system and covering the following items approach . SGSS is the • Identification of the Vehicle company which is covering • Braking System the technical inspection in • Steering System Albania. • Visibility Checks • Lighting equipment and parts of electric system • Axles, wheels, tires, suspension • Chassis and chassis attachment • Nuisance including gas emissions. Safer Vehicles

• Roadside Inspection • Roadside Inspection • Ministry has approved a • Vehicle documentation such Joint instruction with as driver license , Internal Ministry for municipality certificate roadside checks. • Condition of the vehicle and • It is in compliance with EU possible interventions in the directive 2014/47/EU. vehicle • Axial Loads • It provides for joint bodies • Vehicles carrying dangerous composed by technical goods the equipment which inspectors and police. the law foresee such as first • It is supplied a machine for aid and fire extinguisher. that propose. Road User Behavior

Distribution of fatal and serious by speed limit • Speeding 90% • About 75% of 80% the road 70% accidents are 60% caused by 50% above limit. 40% 30% • In 2019 55% of road accidents 20% are caused by 10% 0% 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 exceeding the Over the speed limit 45% 57% 68% 64% 59% 74% 80% 75% speed limit. Within the speed limit 55% 43% 32% 36% 41% 26% 20% 25% Road User Behavior

• Driving Under Influence Accidents and alcohol level year 2019 • A driver is considered 1200 drunk of they have a blood alcohol content 1000 of more than 0.5 grams/liter (g/l), and 800 are fined from 37-110 Euro (5000 to 15000 600 Alcohol above limit ALL). After the offense Alcohol within limits has been verified, the 400 driver has their license suspended for 6 200

months to a year, or for 0 one to two years if they Killed Heavy Slightly Not injured have repeated the injured injured offense within a year. Road User Behavior

• Use of Seatbelt and Helmet

Use of Seatbelt 1200

1000 Fatalities by the seatbelt or helmet use 105 800 97 91 94 85 600 Not using Seatbelt 76 79 Using Seatbelt 74 400 No 200 Yes 31 0 25 25 22 19 No injury Slightly injured Heavy Injured Fatal 15 18 17

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 No 97 85 91 105 76 74 79 94 Yes 25 15 22 18 31 25 17 19 Fatalities and seriously injured year 2019 Road User Behavior 180 160 140 120 • Vulnerable road user 100 80 60 • Pedestrians 40 20 • Motorcyclist 0 Cyclist Pedestrian Motorcyclist Passenger Driver • Cyclist 250 Fatalities or serious injuries, by road user, in years 253 240 230 238 220 213 213 200 192 174 167 150 161 136 132 123 127 Cyclist 111 100 Pedestrian 65 Motorcyclist 50 48 31 25 35 32 33 29 Passenger 0 Driver 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Cyclist 31 25 35 32 33 29 48 65 Pedestrian 240 220 230 238 213 192 213 253 Motorcyclist 132 123 174 161 167 127 136 111 Passenger 179 200 172 221 183 165 141 159 Driver 166 145 146 154 166 104 126 130 Road User Behavior

• Recommendation • Strengthening of law enforcement can contribute to changing key risky behaviors such as speeding, drink or drug–driving, red light driving, etc. • The Albanian Ministry of Interior has prepared a Draft-Law which foresee heavier penalties with the aim to contribute • The legislation should be understandable by all road users. The traffic police would use the help of a continuous nationwide in changing of risky behaviors such as use of mobile phone , public awareness campaigns speeding , drug–driving, red light driving, etc. • Training of school children should take priority. The number of hours devoted to the road safety and traffic rules at both • The lead office will cover the coordination activities related elementary and middle school should be increased to the training of school children , accident information system etc. • Drug–driving is an emerging road safety issue. It is necessary to understand and study the current situation and take preventive measures. • While the Accident Information System provides a good pool of data, its improvement is necessary. Also, the development of high quality databases to also collect hospital data, driver data, etc. is an immediate need THANK YOU FOR THE ATTENTION

Prepared: Edmond Alite [email protected]