Definitions Used in the Law

Insufficient visibility

visibility of the road and/or visibility distance up to 300 meters in conditions of fog, rain, snowfall and/or other adverse weather affecting the safety of road traffic.

Autodrome

a closed driving area (autodrome) equipped with permanently installed structures, devices and elements, fenced and separated, for the purpose of performing exercises for driver training or skill acquisition.

Driving practice area

a training ground equipped with movable devices and elements for the purpose of performing exercises for driver training.

Automobile

any self-propelled vehicle intended for the transport of persons or goods by road or for the towing of a vehicle used for the transport of goods, including the following subclasses: light passenger motor vehicle, bus, cargo motor vehicle, combined passenger and cargo vehicle, special-purpose motor vehicle, electric vehicle. This concept includes trolleybuses, i.e. non-rail vehicles connected to an electric conductor. The concept does not include such vehicles as agricultural tractors, for which use for the transport of persons or goods by road or for the towing of a vehicle used for the transport of goods is an additional function.

Built-up area

a built-up area whose entry and exit are marked by built-up-area road signs.

Carriageway

an element of the road intended for the movement of non-rail vehicles.

Traffic lane

a longitudinal strip of the carriageway, marked or unmarked, whose width is sufficient for the movement of vehicles in a single row.

Railway crossing

the at-grade intersection of a road with railway or tram lines having a separated track bed.

Public transport vehicle

a vehicle transporting passengers and/or luggage along routes with stopping points (stops) (tram, trolleybus, bus).

Permissible maximum mass

the mass of a vehicle loaded with the driver, passengers and cargo, fully equipped and refueled, which the manufacturer has established as the maximum permissible. The permissible maximum mass of a coupled combination of vehicles moving as a single whole is considered to be the sum of the permissible maximum masses of all vehicles included in it.

Intersection

a place of intersection, junction or branching of roads at one level, including such a territory arising upon the intersection, junction or branching, which is conditionally delimited by imaginary lines joining the opposite starting points of the curves existing in the place of intersection, junction or branching of the carriageways of the roads. The exit onto a road from an adjacent area is not considered an intersection.

Organized pedestrian column

a group of persons moving together along the road in one direction in the manner established by the legislation.

Stopping

the deliberate bringing of a vehicle to a stationary state for up to 5 minutes or for the time necessary for the boarding, alighting of a passenger and/or the loading, unloading of the vehicle.

Parking

the deliberate bringing of a vehicle to a stationary state for more than 5 minutes, with the exception of preventing a collision with another road traffic participant or any obstruction, the boarding, alighting of a passenger and/or the loading, unloading of the vehicle, as well as other cases provided for by the legislation.

Traffic controller

a person having the authority to regulate road traffic and carrying out such regulation in the manner established by the legislation.

Shoulder

an element of the road adjoining the carriageway, differing from it by the type of surface or separated by appropriate marking, intended for the stopping of a vehicle, the movement of cyclists and pedestrians, the placement of building materials during road repair, or other cases established by the legislation.

Trailer (semi-trailer)

a vehicle not equipped with an engine, which is intended to be set in motion by means of a motor vehicle and to move as part of it as a single whole (including a special trailer).

Forced stop

the deliberate bringing of a vehicle to a stationary state due to a malfunction of the vehicle, the physical and/or mental state of the driver or passenger and/or the transport of cargo—due to a danger or other obstruction appearing on the road, or to obey a prohibiting signal of a traffic light or traffic controller, or to give way to other vehicles, or to prevent a collision with another road traffic participant or any obstruction, or to comply with a requirement given in the manner established by law by a police officer or other authorized person to stop the vehicle, or to comply with a requirement provided for by the road traffic rules approved by the Government of the Republic of Armenia. The rules established by the legislation for stopping do not apply to cases of forced stops.

Bicycle

a vehicle having at least two wheels and, as a rule, set in motion by the muscular force of the person on it, in particular by means of pedals or hand cranks, with the exception of a wheelchair, which may also have an electric motor with a nominal continuous rated power not exceeding 0.25 kW, which is automatically switched off at a speed exceeding 25 km/h.

Pedestrian

a person on the road outside a vehicle, with the exception of a person authorized to carry out works on the road and carrying out such works in the manner established by the legislation. Equated to a pedestrian is a person moving in a non-motorised wheelchair, leading a bicycle, moped or motorcycle, or pulling (pushing) a cargo cart, sled, pram or wheelchair, as well as a disabled person moving in a motorised wheelchair at pedestrian speed.

Pedestrian crossing

a designated section of the carriageway, indicated by road signs and/or markings and intended in the manner established by the legislation for the movement of pedestrians.

Road

a strip of land or surface of an artificial structure equipped or adapted for the movement of vehicles in the manner established by the legislation, having at least one carriageway and, where present, also tram lines, footways, shoulders and median strips.

Road traffic

a system of social relations arising in the course of the movement along the road of persons and/or cargo by means of vehicles or without such.

Road traffic safety

the state of protection of road traffic participants from road traffic accidents.

Technical means of organizing road traffic

road signs, traffic lights, protective barriers, road markings, etc.

Road engineering structures

stops, railway crossings, urban electric transport lines, bus shelters, vehicle parking sites, rest areas, snow protection forest belts, plantings, bypass routes outside the road's right-of-way, fire- and avalanche-protection structures, emergency escape ramps, road communications, lighting, etc.

Road traffic accident

an event arising in the course of the movement of a vehicle along the road and with its participation, as a result of which persons have died or been injured, or vehicles, cargo or structures have been damaged, or other material damage has been caused.

Ensuring road traffic safety

an action aimed at the prevention of road traffic accidents and at reducing the severity of their consequences.

Road traffic participant

(hereinafter—traffic participant)—a person directly participating in road traffic: driver, pedestrian, passenger.

Organization of road traffic

a complex of organizational, legal and technical measures aimed at the regulation of road traffic.

Footway

an element of the road adjoining the carriageway or separated from it in any manner, intended for the movement of pedestrians in the manner established by the legislation.

Mechanical vehicle

a vehicle set in motion by an engine, including tractors, self-propelled machines and mechanisms (except for vehicles whose engine working volume does not exceed 50 cubic centimeters), as well as trolleybuses and electric vehicles.

Adjacent area

a territory directly bordering the road, not intended for the through movement of vehicles (courtyards, parking sites, closed areas, fuel stations, etc.).

International traffic

the movement in the Republic of Armenia of a vehicle registered in another country and present in the Republic of Armenia continuously or with breaks of up to two months and within a period of up to one year.

Moped

a two- or three-wheeled motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine of working volume not exceeding 50 cm³ or an electric motor with a nominal continuous rated power exceeding 0.25 kW and less than 4 kW, whose maximum design speed does not exceed 50 km/h. Quadricycles with equivalent technical characteristics are equated to a moped.

Motorcycle

a two-wheeled motor vehicle with or without a sidecar, whose engine working volume (in the case of an internal combustion engine) exceeds 50 cm³ or whose maximum design speed (for any engine type) exceeds 50 km/h.
Equated to a motorcycle are also tricycles with a mass not exceeding 400 kg (550 kg for vehicles intended for the transport of cargo) when fully equipped and fueled, without driver, passengers or cargo—and for electric vehicles also without batteries—and with a maximum effective engine power not exceeding 15 kW, as well as quadricycles with a motorcycle-type seating arrangement or motorcycle-type steering.

State of intoxication

a physical and/or mental state of a person caused by the consumption of alcoholic beverages, narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances, in which the driving of a vehicle gives rise to administrative liability.

Qualification examination

a theoretical and/or practical examination conducted in accordance with the training programs for the acquisition of the right to drive a vehicle of the corresponding category.

Driver

a person operating a vehicle. Equated to a driver are also the person teaching to drive, as well as a drover leading along the road pack and/or riding animals or livestock.

Emergency situation

a situation arising as a consequence of the action and/or inaction of a traffic participant and/or traffic controller, in which a real threat of a road traffic accident is created.

Visibility distance

the distance from an observation point at the height of the driver's seat to a visible object located at the same height.

Vehicle

a device intended for the transport of persons, cargo or equipment installed on it along the road.

Passenger

a person located in the saloon (cabin) of a vehicle or on a vehicle, as well as a person boarding (entering) or alighting from (descending from) a vehicle, with the exception of the driver and the driving instructor.

Hours of darkness

the period between the end of evening twilight and the beginning of morning twilight.

Bus

a motor vehicle intended for passengers, having more than 8 seats, whose design and equipment are intended for the safe and comfortable transport of passengers and luggage.

Median strip

an element dividing the adjacent carriageways of a road, structurally and/or by appropriate marking separated, not intended for the movement or stopping of vehicles and pedestrians.

Truck

a motor vehicle whose design and equipment are intended for the transport of cargo.

Fatality

a person who has died as a result of a road traffic accident.

Public transport stopping point

a place equipped with appropriate road signs on a specific section of the route of a public transport vehicle, intended for the boarding and alighting of passengers.

Passenger car

a motor vehicle intended for passengers, having no more than 8 seats, whose design and equipment are intended for the safe and comfortable transport of passengers and luggage.

Individually built vehicle

a vehicle manufactured in accordance with the technical conditions established for individually (collectively) constructed vehicles.

Authorized official

a police official authorized to draw up a record of an administrative offense and/or to take a decision on its basis.

Deregistration

a registration action connected with the registration of a vehicle by another competent body, or with its export from the territory of the Republic of Armenia, or with its decommissioning.

Impound facility

a vehicle impound lot kept by the police or another competent body, intended for the keeping of impounded vehicles.

Re-registration

a registration action connected with the change of any of the registration data of a vehicle (owner's surname, name, address, type of vehicle, make, registration number, color, numbers of numbered assemblies, permissible maximum mass, unladen mass, special notes made in the registration certificate).

Vehicle modification

a change in the design of a vehicle connected with the removal of components or equipment provided for by the vehicle's design and affecting the ensuring of road traffic safety, or with the installation of those not provided for.

Person injured in a road traffic accident

a person who has sustained bodily injury as a result of a road traffic accident, which determines the necessity of their subsequent hospitalization or outpatient treatment.

State registration of a vehicle

the registration of the origination, modification or termination of the rights of ownership, pledge and rights under a lease agreement of a vehicle.

Road train

a motor vehicle coupled with a trailer (semi-trailer) (motor vehicles coupled to each other for towing purposes are not considered a road train).

Give way to other vehicles

the driver must not continue or resume movement or perform any maneuver that affects priority if this may force the drivers of other vehicles to unexpectedly change the direction or speed of movement.

Goods-and-passenger vehicle

a motor vehicle whose design and equipment are intended for the transport of cargo, and which also has no more than six seats for passengers, intended for the safe and comfortable transport of passengers and luggage (with the cargo compartment reliably separated from the passenger and luggage saloon).

Electric vehicle

a motor vehicle set in motion by one or more electric motors powered by an independent source of electrical energy (with the exception of a trolleybus and a tram).

Special-purpose motor vehicle

a motor vehicle intended for the performance of various—predominantly non-transport (not related to the transport of persons or cargo)—works with the help of assemblies, devices and equipment installed on it.

Special trailer (semi-trailer)

a trailer (semi-trailer) intended for the performance of various—predominantly non-transport (not related to the transport of persons or cargo)—works with the help of assemblies, devices and equipment installed on it.

Tricycle

a vehicle with three wheels symmetrically arranged in relation to the median longitudinal plane of the vehicle, whose engine working volume (in the case of an internal combustion engine) exceeds 50 cm³ and/or whose maximum design speed (for any engine type) exceeds 50 km/h.

Quadricycle

a four-wheeled motor-transport vehicle intended for operation on public motor roads, with a maximum design speed of not less than 25 km/h, a maximum engine power of not more than 15 kW, and a mass (when fully equipped and fueled, without driver, passengers or cargo—and for electric vehicles also without batteries) of not more than 400 kg (550 kg for vehicles intended for the transport of cargo).

Off-road quad bike

a four-wheeled off-road motor vehicle (ATV) with tires of internal pressure not exceeding 69 kPa (0.7 kgf/cm²), with a motorcycle-type seat and motorcycle-type steering, intended for the transport (movement) of one person only (the driver) off public motor roads. The operation of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), as well as snow-marsh-going and snow-going vehicles, on public motor roads is prohibited.