Kyrgyzstan has implemented stricter traffic enforcement measures aimed at curbing repeat violations and improving road safety.
Under the new rules, drivers who commit three serious traffic violations within a 12-month period will be required to retake the traffic rules exam. Offenses triggering mandatory retesting 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, and permitting an intoxicated or unlicensed individual to drive.
The initiative is part of a broader set of reforms designed to enhance driver education and reduce accident rates. In a related move, Kyrgyz authorities have suspended all private driving schools until August 30, 2026. During this period, driver training will be limited to state-run institutions. The length of training has also been extended from 2.5 months to 10 months. Officials say the reforms are intended to eliminate corruption and ensure that drivers are properly prepared before receiving licenses.
President Sadyr Japarov has been a vocal proponent of the reforms. On February 3, he visited the State Center for Registration of Vehicles and Drivers to observe the new testing procedures. He criticized the former system, noting that over 90% of students at private driving schools previously passed licensing exams despite inadequate knowledge. Since the introduction of more rigorous exams, the pass rate has dropped to 18-20%, a figure authorities say better reflects actual preparedness.
Japarov emphasized the human toll of traffic accidents, stating that over 75,000 accidents in the past decade have claimed more than 9,000 lives in Kyrgyzstan.
The president also spoke candidly about personal losses caused by reckless driving. In 2019, his eldest son was killed when a vehicle illegally crossed a double line and struck his motorcycle. Years earlier, his brother and sister-in-law died in an accident caused by a drunk driver.
“There are thousands of such stories,” Japarov said, underscoring the urgent need for stronger enforcement and reform in the country’s road safety system.
