Kanybek Tumanbaev, the head of the president's office, announced the transfer of all private driving schools in Kyrgyzstan to state management. He clarified that this change will not lead to layoffs and will not alter the working conditions of employees. Staff at private educational institutions will retain their positions and salaries.
“Private driving schools will continue their operations, but they will now become state-owned. All working conditions will remain the same. The main goal of the reform is to increase transparency and minimize corruption risks in the education sector. To achieve this, the digitization of all processes will be implemented. The reform also aims to unify educational standards, improve quality control of training, and ensure equal access to educational services,” Tumanbaev noted.
According to the manager, Kyrgyzstan holds a leading position in the region for the number of traffic accidents and fatalities on the roads, which is an extremely negative indicator that needs to be addressed. “Human life is paramount. Our task is to reduce the number of accidents and improve the quality of driver training,” he added.
According to the head of the traffic police service under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Baikazy Aitkul uulu, there were 6,208 registered traffic accidents in the country, resulting in 9,078 injuries and 636 fatalities.
“Compared to last year, these figures are 22.7% higher. The main cause of accidents is driver behavior. 90.5% of traffic accidents occur due to ignorance of traffic rules and irresponsible behavior of drivers. They often drive into oncoming traffic, exceed speed limits in prohibited areas, and do not maintain distance. Additionally, driving under the influence of alcohol and a lack of driving culture are also significant factors. The absence of proper education in driving schools, both theoretical and practical, exacerbates the situation,” he commented.
The traffic police are taking comprehensive measures to prevent traffic accidents, including regulating the activities of taxi drivers and issuing licenses. Previously, many drivers, lacking sufficient qualifications and experience, were transporting passengers in faulty vehicles. These issues are under control. The process of legalizing vehicles with foreign license plates has also begun. Regular raids are conducted to identify drivers who poorly understand or do not know traffic rules, with the aim of revoking their licenses and sending them for retraining.
Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, Oktyabr Urmambetov, reported on the "Safe Country" project, under which surveillance cameras are being installed on republican highways. “We will soon complete this work. Analysis shows that 90% of traffic accidents are caused by driver actions. We continue to work on reducing the number of accidents and are fulfilling the corresponding directives,” he added.
The transfer of private driving schools to state management is the right decision that will allow the government to control the quality of education for future drivers. The lack of knowledge obtained in private driving schools contributes to a high level of accidents. Instilling responsibility and driving culture should begin at an early age. The initiative to transfer all driving schools to state management is a correct step. Extending the training period to 14 months will help prepare responsible drivers,” the deputy minister noted.
Kanybek Tumanbaev emphasized that the state is creating all necessary conditions to improve the quality of driver training. In particular, there will be an opportunity for online training for those who cannot attend classes in person, such as women on maternity leave or residents of remote areas.
“Practical lessons will be conducted both in summer and winter, so that future drivers can gain experience driving in various weather conditions. The training program has already been developed, and we plan to prepare conscious and responsible drivers,” he added.
The transfer of all driving schools to a unified state management system is a strategic step aimed at reducing the level of traffic accidents on the roads of Kyrgyzstan. Only a systematic approach to driver training, reinforced by state inspection and the cultivation of road behavior culture, can change the situation and ensure the safety of citizens.
