On his social media page, President Sadyr Japarov commented on the necessity of reforms in the field of driver training and the issuance of driver's licenses. He noted that to date, 90% of drivers have obtained their licenses illegally.
“This is a sad reality, and I can confirm it. If you stop most drivers on the street and don’t even ask them about traffic rules, but simply ask questions about the technical specifications of the car, they will not be able to provide correct answers,” Japarov stated.
According to him, many drivers, when asked about the engine, may confuse it with the radiator.
The president emphasized that it is necessary to think about the future and bring order to this area.
The situation with road accidents also raises serious concerns. From 2014 to 2020, 6,159 people died as a result of traffic accidents, and from 2021 to the present day — 3,818. The decrease in the number of victims occurred thanks to the measures taken, but the fight against this problem must continue.
The number of injured since 2014 stands at 121,896 people. “In our country, one can speak of a quiet war, where people die and get injured as a result of road accidents,” the president noted.
According to him, this is not only a loss of citizens but also additional costs for the treatment of those who have become disabled. This causes serious damage to the state.
“Now no one will be able to buy a driver's license. Those who previously purchased licenses and are caught violating the rules will have to take exams. What is so bad about that?” he added.
Japarov also noted that those who do not know the rules or have forgotten them will be able to study them again. “All traffic accidents occur due to non-compliance with the rules, which leads to human casualties,” he emphasized.
The president shared an example of how one of the sellers of licenses could not guarantee that one of his clients would not cause an accident in which someone close to him would be harmed.
“An employee selling licenses should think about whether this person might be the cause of a tragedy,” he added.
The head of state assured that all efforts would be made to ensure that licenses are issued only to those who have undergone complete training. In Europe, he said, training can last 2–3 years, and this contributes to a decrease in the number of traffic accidents.
“Why shouldn’t we strive for the same result? Even if we start now, it may take 50 years to achieve this,” Japarov noted.
He also added that as part of the reform, a course on traffic rules will be introduced in schools. Specialists from the Traffic Safety Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Education are already working on its development.
Detailed information will be presented to the public by the end of November. “Why 14 months? Because 11th and 12th-grade students start their training in September, and time is needed to absorb the material,” the president explained.
Practical classes will be conducted taking into account weather conditions and will include training on slippery roads, actions in the dark, and in case of car breakdowns.
“The 14 months are provided so that those who did not pass the exams can prepare and come back again,” he added.
The president also noted that training should be accessible to everyone, as everyone is a participant in road traffic. “Knowledge of traffic rules will be useful for the youth,” he said.
The technical base for training is quite developed. Driving schools will be opened in all regions, and those who have graduated from school or university will be able to study in driving schools with shorter training periods.
“There will be no more corruption! Forget about the possibility of buying licenses. Now, licenses can only be obtained through knowledge and effort,” the president concluded.
