11.02.2022

On February 11, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired a videoconferencing on the road safety issues.

«Over the last five years, this issue has not been discussed or analyzed seriously by any leader or organization. The laws and work in this area are absolutely unsatisfactory. The issue of road safety is out of control. This causes people’s complaints», the President said.

In 2021, more than 10 thousand traffic accidents occurred in our country, in which more than 9 thousand people were injured. About 2.5 thousand people died.

According to the analysis, 25% of car accidents are caused by poor road conditions and poor infrastructure. For example, on the roads between Pop and Turakurgan, Jarkurgan and Denau, Samarkand and Guzar, on the section of the A-373 road, passing through Yazyavan District, dozens of people die every year. Unfortunately, there are such dangerous places in every region, every district and city.

During the meeting, the list of regions with the highest occurrence of road accidents were determined and the disciplinary measures against the responsible officials were identified. The head of the department of internal affairs of Namangan Region, the heads of Andijan and Samarkand regional departments of road safety have been relieved of their positions.

It was emphasized that the cause of most traffic accidents is the deliberate ignorance of the rules by drivers and their inexperience, as well as the disregard of rules by pedestrians. In this regard, the national program «Safe Roads and Pedestrian Safety» shall be implemented in all regions this year.

The Legislative Chamber and the responsible authorities were focused on the need to revise and radically improve the norms of legislation in the field of traffic taking into account the increasing cases of grave and repeated violations of the rules.

In order to ensure the inevitability of punishment, it is planned to introduce a system of penalty points for each offense. For example, if a driver exceeds the speed limit, he will receive 1 point, and if he runs through a red light - 3 points. If the sum of violations for the year exceeds 12 points, a driver shall be deprived of the right to drive a car and sent to repass the exam.

In addition, the procedure for determining the insurance premium for compulsory insurance of drivers’ liability based on the penalty points will be introduced.

A new type of liability shall be introduced – a road hooliganism for irresponsible driving and obstruction of other road users.

Noting that the current traffic rules are outdated, the President instructed to update them in accordance with international standards taking into account the opinions of specialists and drivers.

The issues of training and examination of drivers were also discussed during the meeting.

The number of vehicles in our country is growing annually, but the culture of mutual respect and the qualifications of drivers, instead, are declining. Thus, 75% of traffic accidents were committed by drivers under 35 years old. The curricula and textbooks taught at driving schools do not meet modern requirements.

In this regard, the Ministry of Internal Affairs was assigned the task of supervising the quality of education at driving schools. It was instructed to review the requirements for such schools and examination centers, to improve the efficiency of driver training and the qualifications of teachers.

The most effective way to manage the traffic flows is digitalization. However, a progress in this direction is slow.

In particular, digital management covers only 111 out of 602 intersections in the city of Tashkent. In other cities, there is no such system at all.

The khokimiyat (mayor’s office) of the city of Tashkent was tasked with digitalizing traffic management on the capital’s roads, covering all intersections within the next 2 years. The introduction of such a system in the regions is entrusted to the regional khokims (governors).

The necessity of developing the new concepts of traffic management and safety in the city of Nukus and regional centers was emphasized.

During the meeting, the condition of roads and infrastructure problems were also analyzed.

Last year, there were more than 10,000 complaints from the public on the traffic issues. In particular, more than 2.000 intersections with active traffic and about 10.000 pedestrian crossings are not equipped with traffic lights and other facilities. About 15.000 kilometers of pedestrian and bicycle paths missing in populated areas.

In addition, half of the road signs and markings do not meet the requirements. Most of the enterprises under the regional khokimiyats responsible for the installation of road signs and traffic lights use old equipment. It is determined that these enterprises will be transferred to the management of traffic safety in the relevant territory.

Henceforth, only the road safety system will be responsible for the installation of road signs, traffic lights and lighting equipment, marking, determining pedestrian paths in the regional and district centers and for the technical organization of traffic in general. To finance this work, the republican and regional funds «Safe Roads and Pedestrian Safety» shall be established.

In addition, the monopoly of the Committee on Highways on the production of road signs will be abolished. The entrepreneurs will be attracted to this area.

The President has instructed to make traffic on the streets more convenient for drivers and pedestrians.

«The rules of the road must be scientifically sound. A thoughtful speed limit should be set on the central streets of large cities. In particular, in front of schools and kindergartens, the speed should not exceed 30 kilometers per hour. On some busy streets, it is necessary to reduce the speed from the current 70 kilometers per hour to 60 kilometers», Shavkat Mirziyoyev said.

In this regard, the task was set to create a scientific and practical center specializing in this area.

The responsible officials and khokims spoke on the issues discussed at the meeting.