Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs has proposed amendments to the national passenger transport law, aimed at enhancing safety standards for drivers and introducing new restrictions on mountainous routes, especially the hazardous Bishkek-Osh highway.
According to the draft legislation published on the government’s legal portal, the proposed changes would apply to taxi and bus services nationwide, The Caspian Post reports citing foreign media.
Among the key provisions are: all taxis must be equipped with functioning taximeters, and drivers will be required to visibly display their license number and photo identification inside the vehicle. Drivers must also meet stricter eligibility criteria, including sobriety, appropriate grooming, and a clean criminal record, specifically, no convictions for serious crimes.
Enhanced Safety Protocols and Route Restrictions
The proposed law mandates pre-trip medical examinations for drivers and routine technical inspections for all passenger vehicles prior to departure. These measures are part of a broader effort to raise safety standards in the country’s growing but often unregulated transport sector.
One of the most significant changes involves the regulation of mountain routes. The new rules would prohibit right-hand drive vehicles from providing passenger services and restrict the use of small-capacity buses on the hazardous Bishkek-Osh highway during winter months. Only large, four-wheel-drive buses would be allowed to operate on the route year-round, while smaller vehicles would be permitted only between May 1 and October 15. The highway, which traverses some of Kyrgyzstan’s most treacherous terrain, sees dozens of accidents and fatalities each year.
Mixed Reactions from Drivers
Taxi drivers interviewed by The Times of Central Asia offered a range of responses to the proposed legislation.
“We carry people, and safety should come first,” said Halil Ibragimov, a taxi driver in Bishkek. “Passengers need to know that the vehicle is in proper condition and that the driver is well-kept. No one wants to be driven by someone wearing shorts and slippers, with smelly feet.”
Ibragimov welcomed stricter checks on driver sobriety and knowledge of traffic regulations.
Others, however, raised concerns about the potential economic impact of seasonal vehicle bans on the Bishkek-Osh route.
“If this ban is introduced, hundreds of drivers will lose their income, and it will be much harder for passengers to travel from the north to the south of the country,” said a Mr. Kudaybergenov, a taxi operator.
Fleet drivers in Bishkek echoed these concerns and called for more balanced reforms. They advocated for better enforcement of existing regulations and improved oversight of vehicle fleets rather than outright seasonal bans.
“There should be scheduled departures for all buses and taxis along that route,” one driver said. “Make sure every driver has proper winter tires and gets enough rest before setting off again. Too many drivers go back on the road immediately after a long trip just to earn more.”
Fleet owners also warned that a full winter ban on standard vehicles could cause travel disruptions and leave passengers stranded for extended periods.
