Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — During a meeting on 9 July dedicated to improving road safety, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev revealed that he had personally tested the situation on the streets of Tashkent by getting behind the wheel and encountering a traffic jam.

The head of state emphasized that road infrastructure is a key indicator of a country’s development and economic level, including in the eyes of foreign visitors. According to him, over the previous weekend, he drove a car himself and, like an ordinary citizen, got stuck in traffic.

"I went out on the road myself—no one knew who was behind the wheel. I sat in a traffic jam like everyone else—for 15 to 20 minutes. Calmly, without any privileges," the president said.

He stressed that he did not use his status to gain an advantage on the road: "[Interior Minister Aziz] Tashpulatov, am I right? No one knew it was me. I was stuck in traffic along with other drivers. What else could I do? I wasn’t about to get out of the car and shout, ‘Hey, I’m the president, open the road!’ I drove on like everyone else. Only afterward did I call the minister."

Shavkat Mirziyoyev expressed dissatisfaction with the current state of traffic organization in the capital, saying he had personally experienced all the inconveniences: "I told him—come drive here yourself and try to get through. People are forced to return home late at night. Naturally, their mood worsens. Here’s one simple example: a four-lane road near a bridge narrows to two lanes. Is that acceptable? Everything could have been arranged properly, without much effort."

The president also reminded those present that he had conducted a similar experiment back in June 2022, when he drove around the city for an hour and a half and witnessed numerous violations and chaotic traffic firsthand. At the time, he admitted to being shocked by the level of disorder on the roads.