New system to penalize chronic traffic offenders in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is set to implement the “Chronic Violators” program. The initiative was announced on July 9 during a videoconference meeting chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, focused on road safety and reducing traffic congestion.

It was reported that in 2023, drivers committed 24 million traffic violations, 81 percent of which were classified as gross offenses. The issue has become particularly chronic in Samarkand, Kashkadarya, the Tashkent region, and Tashkent city.

On social networks, public figures and ordinary citizens alike have expressed dissatisfaction, with some celebrities even stating, “I paid the fine, I can drive however I want.”

“Now we will create a new system to improve the driving culture and demonstrate the full force of the law to serious violators,” the President said.

To this end, the “Chronic Violators” program will be launched. Under the new rules, if a driver commits two red-light violations or five instances of speeding within a month, they will no longer be eligible for reduced fines for up to one year. Furthermore, if a driver commits more than ten such violations in a month, their driving license will be revoked for up to six months.

It was also noted that it may be appropriate to revise the current speeding penalties and amend legislation to revoke the driving rights of individuals who repeatedly exceed the speed limit by two to three times the legal norm.

As a reminder, earlier in the same meeting, President Mirziyoyev expressed concern over the high rate of traffic-related fatalities in 2024, noting that 2,203 people have died in road accidents so far—an average of six lives lost per day, with one person dying in every fourth accident.

The President also announced the launch of the “Safe Road” national program aimed at reducing accidents through improvements in road infrastructure.