Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — A video conference chaired by President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has commenced, focusing on road traffic safety and reducing congestion.

It was noted that significant efforts have been made in this area over the past seven years. A total of 61 trillion soums have been allocated for road construction and repair—3.5 times more than the amount allocated prior to 2017.

An online feedback system has been introduced, resulting in a 50 percent reduction in the number of appeals to traffic safety departments.

In addition, 3,365 traffic safety officers have been equipped with electronic tablets and body cameras. A system for automatically detecting and processing traffic violations using artificial intelligence has been implemented.

Eight services, including driving exams, road marking, vehicle inspections, and others, have been outsourced to private entrepreneurs.

Dedicated lanes for public transport have been introduced in cities. Last month, a number of regulatory relaxations for drivers were also implemented.

For the first time, a new approach has been adopted under which first-time offenders receive a warning instead of punishment.

Cameras are no longer used to record incidents of vehicles crossing road markings.

Other vehicles are now allowed to use public transport lanes during evening hours.

Road repair work in cities has been prohibited during daylight hours.

It is now mandatory to install road signs wherever speed radars are used.

At the same time, the head of state stressed that many problems in this field remain unresolved.

It was emphasized that road traffic accidents cost the country an average of 0.4 percent of its gross domestic product.

Last year, 9,364 traffic accidents occurred. Nearly 9,000 citizens were injured in these incidents.

Most tragically, 2,203 people lost their lives in these accidents. The highest number of fatalities was recorded in Samarkand, Tashkent, and Fergana regions.

In the first six months of this year, the rate of traffic accidents remained high in 20 regions.

However, a significant reduction in serious accidents has been observed in some areas. In particular, districts such as Muynak, Nukus, Takhtakupir, Kanlikul, Yangiabad, Turakurgan, Akkurgan, Saykhunabad, Bulakbashi, Ulughnor, Bandikhan, and the cities of Ohangaron, Shirin, Nurafshon, and Khanabad reported no fatalities.

Conversely, districts such as Kiziltepa, Uychi, Pakhtachi, Chust, Taylak, Urgut, Shavat, Pastdargom, Yakkabag, Kushkupir, Khanka, Denov, Peshku, Beruni, Almazar, and Bektemir experienced worsening trends.

Officials responsible for traffic safety were reminded that the fact that Uzbekistan ranks among the lowest in terms of road deaths per 100,000 people within the Commonwealth of Independent States should not be a reason for complacency.

“Unfortunately, every fourth traffic accident results in a fatality, and on average, six people die on the roads every day. This should be a cause for serious concern for everyone,” the President emphasized.

It was noted that where the local hokim and road patrol service (DPS) divisions work together seriously on developing road infrastructure, positive results are evident.

For instance, after the installation of protective barriers along six kilometers of the Fergana ring road (D-105) passing through Chust, not a single fatal accident occurred this year, whereas in previous years, around ten people died annually on that stretch.

By presidential instruction, a nationwide inspection was conducted on roads of international and national significance.

The findings revealed a shortage of concrete and metal guardrails on 1,557 kilometers of roads, missing sidewalks on 967 kilometers, and a deficit of 38,000 road signs.

In response, the President of Uzbekistan announced the launch of the national program “Safe Road,” aimed at reducing traffic accidents by improving road infrastructure.

As part of this initiative, the Republican Fund “Safe Road and Safe Pedestrian” will be reorganized and placed under the authority of the Government.

Separate regional branches of the fund will be established in every region of the country.

It is projected that the fund will receive 400 billion soums from various sources this year.

Additionally, 25 percent of all fines collected through photo and video radar systems will be directed to the fund and its regional departments.

Responsibility for the installation of road signs, traffic lights, and road markings within the DPS system will be transferred to regional authorities.

The fund’s operations will be fully transparent: its governing board will include heads of regional DPS and road services, along with representatives of the public.

Going forward, the fund’s resources will be prioritized for addressing accident-prone areas — the most dangerous road sections. This will include installing median barriers, road signs, lighting, pedestrian crossings, and digitalizing intersections.

To identify the most problematic road sections, a dedicated online portal will be launched based on public feedback and suggestions.

District hokims and law enforcement leaders will be required to post public budget details on this portal — specifying where road signs, markings, pedestrian crossings, and traffic lights need to be installed.

Residents will also be able to contribute to the list and vote on proposed projects. Photos and videos of completed work will be published on the portal for public evaluation.

It was noted that the capacity of regions and districts to contribute to the fund varies. Therefore, the fund will have the authority to reallocate funds among regions and districts to support infrastructure projects.

Responsibility for maintaining and organizing internal roads will rest with regional and district hokims.

There are currently over 1,200 U-turn points along national and international roads, but only 146 of them have overhead or underground structures. Out of more than 10,000 pedestrian crossings nationwide, only 154 are equipped with overpasses or underpasses.

In this regard, by October 1, an inspection will be conducted to assess the compliance of Uzbekistan’s international highways with safety standards along the Tashkent–Samarkand–Termez, Tashkent–Fergana Valley, and Samarkand–Bukhara routes.

By the end of the year, a feasibility study will be developed to determine how many overpasses and underpasses, pedestrian crossings, as well as modern reflective road signs and markings, are required.

For the following year, US$200 million has been included in the forecasted funding from international financial institutions for these purposes.

It was specifically emphasized that the public transportation system in the country has yet to reach a level that adequately serves the population.

Intercity buses do not operate on a fixed schedule, but only depart once 40 to 50 passengers have gathered. This is due to the lack of a compensation mechanism for entrepreneurs who organize long-distance transportation. Currently, subsidies are provided only for suburban routes.

The President announced that a new system will be introduced to develop medium- and long-distance public transportation.

A separate approach will be applied for routes originating from Tashkent and for those connecting different regions.

Every day, approximately one million people arrive in the capital, 275,000 of whom come from Tashkent Region.

Therefore, Tashkent’s public transportation system will transition to a unified agglomeration model that includes all neighboring districts of the Tashkent Region.

To support this, 20 existing bus routes that currently reach the Ring Road will be extended by an additional 15 to 20 kilometers, and six new routes will be added. This will greatly enhance convenience for residents of the Tashkent Region.

"Citizens should not worry that the route extensions will increase waiting times. By September, 200 new buses will be delivered to the capital, and next year we will bring in another 1,000," the President stated.

The new system is to be implemented in Tashkent and Tashkent Region starting September 1, and in other major cities from January 1 of the following year.

It was stressed that there is a need to intensify both urban and interregional public transportation services.

Subsidies will be provided for each passenger transported by buses and minibuses operating on these routes.

The existing recycling fee exemption for buses will be extended for another three years and will also apply to minibuses.

Additionally, the customs benefit currently in place for three years for tourist buses and minibuses will now be extended to public transportation as well.

However, entrepreneurs will be required to meet two key conditions: strict adherence to the transportation schedule and the transition to a fully transparent electronic payment system.

A number of successful innovative initiatives to ensure comfortable and safe public transportation have already been launched in the regions.

For example, in Tashkent, investments totaling US$300 million from China are being used to repair 200 kilometers of roads and four bridges.

Moreover, to alleviate traffic congestion in the capital, an “Intelligent Transport” information system will be introduced.

This system will integrate over 700 intersections in Tashkent, including all traffic lights and photo and video surveillance devices.

By remotely controlling traffic lights based on real-time traffic flow, it is expected that congestion could be reduced by 25 to 30 percent.

The President also drew attention to another pressing issue.

The public has voiced growing dissatisfaction over the closure of certain streets near administrative buildings of ministries, departments, and local hokimiyats, where employees occupy two to three traffic lanes with their private vehicles.

At the President’s instruction, a survey involving 15,000 drivers was conducted. In Tashkent and other major cities, respondents reported being forced to park on roadways due to a shortage of legal parking spaces.

“There is not a single person or platform today where the voice of an ordinary driver can be heard,” the President stated.

Officials were instructed to remove all unjustified restrictive traffic signs placed near institutions and in residential neighborhoods (mahallas).

In locations where ministry or agency staff create inconvenience for the public by occupying public space for personal parking, surveillance cameras will be installed to ensure accountability and enforcement.

It was also emphasized that government employees should lead by example by using public transportation. A new government resolution now grants road priority only to official vehicles included in an approved list of executive-level personnel.

Last year, drivers committed 24 million traffic violations, 81% of which were classified as serious. The situation has become particularly chronic in the Samarkand, Kashkadarya, and Tashkent regions, as well as in the city of Tashkent.

Social media users — including well-known figures — have been quoted saying, “I paid the fine, now I can drive however I want.”

“In response, we will introduce a new system to raise driving culture and reinforce the rule of law for persistent offenders,” said the President.

A new initiative titled “Persistent Offenders” will be launched.

Under this program, if a driver crosses into oncoming traffic or runs a red light twice within one month, or exceeds the speed limit five times — they will be ineligible for fine discounts for an entire year.

If a driver commits more than ten violations in a single month, they may be stripped of their license for up to six months.

It was also proposed to revise the penalty structure for speeding and amend the law to allow for license revocation in cases where a driver exceeds the speed limit by two to three times.

Complaints have increased about certain Road Safety Departments (UBDD) imposing fines 7–8 months after the violations occurred.

To address this, a new rule has been established: if no decision on a violation is made within one month from the date of the offense, the driver will be exempt from paying the fine.

A new approach to speed limits was also deemed necessary, given the construction of modern roads and the growing number of vehicles equipped with advanced safety systems.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs, in cooperation with regional hokims, was instructed to compile a list of road segments where current speed limits may be reconsidered.

It was noted that the country’s new driver training system is beginning to show results: since the start of the year, traffic violations among new drivers have decreased by 15%, and the number of severe accidents has dropped by 30%.

Nevertheless, improving pedestrian behavior and road safety awareness — particularly among youth — remains a pressing issue.

Relevant ministries have been tasked with overhauling traffic safety education programs in schools and kindergartens before the new academic year.

The “Green Light” competitions among schoolchildren and mahalla youth will be revived, and winners at the national level will receive awards from the President.

Simple educational videos and animated clips on traffic rules will be created, and outreach campaigns on the importance of following traffic regulations will be actively conducted in mahallas and at public events.

The session concluded with progress reports from regional leaders and officials responsible for overseeing the traffic safety sector.