On September 14, 2022, the Automobile Club of Moldova (ACM) celebrated the victory of an active advocacy campaign after the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Moldova approved a series of amendments to the Road Traffic Regulations, aimed at implementing a safer road system.

A key change is the reduction of speed limits to 30 km/h in areas with high volumes of vulnerable road users. This includes school zones, as well as roads near hospitals, parks, and historic city centers.

These changes are the result of a campaign led by ACM over more than two years, supported by the Eastern Alliance for Safe and Sustainable Transport (EASST) and the FIA Foundation’s Advocacy Hub. The campaign sought to reduce road accidents and casualties caused by excessive speed around schools by securing government commitment to mandatory 30 km/h speed limits.

"This is a fantastic achievement for our partner, the Automobile Club of Moldova, and for people across the country. The FIA Foundation Advocacy Hub supports partners in engaging, advocating, and collaborating to influence national policy; this remarkable development shows how change can deliver low-speed, life-saving streets worldwide." – Agnieszka Krasnolucka, Program Manager, FIA Foundation.

Currently, the speed limit in urban areas is set at 50 km/h. Previously, the recommended speed limit near schools was 30 km/h, but it was not mandatory. According to statistics, speeding has been and remains the leading cause of road accidents in Moldova, with speed contributing to 49% of road fatalities in 2020.

As members of the National Road Safety Council and local road infrastructure committees, ACM’s advocacy campaign targeted both national and local levels. Activities focused on engaging municipal stakeholders in Chisinau to develop a local strategy for low-speed zones around schools while also pushing for policy changes at the national level.

The campaign included assessments of existing infrastructure, piloting reduced speed limits, and implementing low-cost traffic calming measures at three "high-risk" schools identified in Chisinau. Students from selected schools participated by urging passing drivers to respect the new speed limits and slow down.

"This initiative demonstrated how crucial civil society engagement is in promoting road safety and how united efforts can lead to success. The combination of ACM’s advocacy, the support of teachers, parents, and children, along with the backing of the police and City Hall, highlights the urgent need for road safety infrastructure measures near every school, especially those located close to roadways." – Anna Franț, Director of IPLT "Stefan cel Mare".

EASST also recognized this achievement as a success story for Eastern Europe. In an interview following the law’s implementation, EASST representatives emphasized that active community involvement was a decisive factor.

ACM’s advocacy efforts included support from the Department of Public Transport and Infrastructure, the City Hall, and 15 other national civil society organizations representing various sectors. Together, they signed a petition calling for lower speeds near educational institutions and in historic city centers.

"We engaged children, teachers, parents, police representatives, cyclists, civic activists, celebrities, journalists, and officials at both local and national levels to spread our advocacy message as widely as possible... Now, it’s time for local authorities to focus on implementation, for the police to enforce the law, and—most importantly—for drivers to comply with the new rules to ensure safety and protect children and other vulnerable road users." – Tatiana Mihailova, ACM Director/Project Manager.

The new amendments to the Road Traffic Regulations also include important updates regarding separate bicycle lanes, clearer rules for overtaking cyclists, and—for the first time—guidelines on the use of electric scooters.

Moving forward, ACM’s efforts will focus on promoting and ensuring the effective local implementation of these new changes across all urban areas in the country.