Kyrgyzstan has introduced stricter traffic laws to enhance road safety and address repeat offenders. The new measures mandate that drivers who commit three serious traffic violations within a year must retake the traffic rules exam. This initiative aims to improve driver education and reduce the frequency of accidents on the roads.
New Traffic Violation Regulations
Several serious infractions will now require mandatory retesting. These offenses include:
- Driving without license plates
- Failing to stop at the request of traffic police
- Exceeding the speed limit by more than 40 km/h
- Failing to yield to emergency vehicles
- Entering the oncoming lane while overtaking
- Damaging road infrastructure
- Causing injury
- Allowing an intoxicated or unlicensed individual to drive
Suspension of Private Driving Schools
Kyrgyz authorities have also halted operations at all private driving schools until August 30, 2026. During this suspension, only state-run institutions will provide driver training. The duration of the training has been significantly increased from 2.5 months to 10 months. Officials believe these changes will help reduce corruption and ensure that drivers are adequately prepared for licensing.
Background and Impact of the Reforms
President Sadyr Japarov has actively supported these reforms. He visited the State Center for Registration of Vehicles and Drivers on February 3 to review the new examination process. Japarov criticized the previous system, highlighting that over 90% of students from private driving schools had passed licensing exams despite lacking proper knowledge.
Following the implementation of stricter exams, the pass rate has notably decreased to 18-20%. This new statistic is regarded as a more accurate reflection of driver readiness. Japarov emphasized the grave consequences of traffic accidents, citing over 75,000 incidents in the last decade, which resulted in more than 9,000 fatalities in the country.
The president shared his personal experiences, noting the impact of reckless driving on his family. In 2019, his eldest son was killed in a crash involving an improperly driven vehicle. Additionally, years earlier, a drunk driver caused the deaths of his brother and sister-in-law. Japarov stressed that “there are thousands of such stories,” indicating the crucial need for stricter traffic law enforcement and road safety reform in Kyrgyzstan.
