Unlicensed Driving Resulted in 707 Accidents and 212 Deaths in Uzbekistan in 2020
In 2023, Uzbekistan faced a troubling increase in traffic accidents involving drivers who had lost their licenses. These unlicensed drivers were responsible for 707 road incidents, resulting in 212 deaths and 546 injuries.
During a recent meeting between Kutbiddin Burkhanov, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defense and Security, and Sherzod Ibragimov, the newly appointed head of the Public Safety Department’s Traffic Safety Service at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, these alarming statistics were brought to light. The discussion underscored the significant impact unlicensed drivers were having on road safety in the country.
Burkhanov revealed that in the first half of 2024, over 10.2 million traffic violations were committed by drivers with valid licenses, highlighting the broader challenges in ensuring road safety nationwide.
Despite unlicensed drivers making up only 0.3% of the total driving population, they accounted for 11% of all traffic accidents in 2023. Their presence on the roads continues to pose a serious public safety concern with devastating consequences.
The meeting between Burkhanov and Ibragimov stressed the importance of enforcing driving regulations more strictly to reduce the high number of incidents caused by individuals who ignore legal restrictions on their driving privileges. It is crucial to address this issue to improve road safety and prevent further tragedies on Uzbekistan’s roads.
