Dayirbek Orunbekov, head of the information policy service of the President's Administration of Kyrgyzstan, shared his thoughts on the new driver training timelines on social media. He emphasized that the ten-month training period is not an arbitrary decision but a necessary step to improve the quality of education.
“Despite numerous explanations, dissatisfaction continues to be voiced. The main question is: 'Why 10 months?'. The answer is simple: these requirements are aimed at ensuring quality training. A trained driver reduces the risk of accidents, while inadequately trained drivers who buy licenses endanger people's lives,” he noted.
Orunbekov also stressed that the government does not intend to complicate citizens' lives but aims for their safety. In his message, he dispelled myths about the difficult training conditions and explained how the educational process will be organized.
“Work is currently underway to create comfortable conditions for training. The ten months include both theoretical and practical classes. Many mistakenly believe that training will take place daily. In fact, classes will be held 2-3 times a week for 2-3 hours. Additionally, online learning will be available,” he said.
In response to criticism of the old training system, which lasted 2.5 months, he pointed out the shortcomings of such an approach. In his opinion, it is impossible to master all the necessary skills, including the psychology of driving, in such a short time.
“Driving is not just about controlling a vehicle. Those who underwent training for two and a half months often do not know the traffic rules. The new program includes elements of psychological training and ethics. A lack of tolerance and culture leads to conflicts on the roads. Now we will teach basic rules and etiquette,” emphasized the head of the press service.
He also provided examples from other countries where obtaining a driver's license takes a long time:
Finland: Training lasts up to 12 months, after which a temporary license is issued for 2 years. If the driver does not violate the rules, they receive a permanent license; otherwise, retraining is required.
Germany, Sweden, Norway: The training period ranges from 8 to 12 months.
United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and some states in the USA: Obtaining a full license takes from 1.5 to 2 years.
“In these countries, there is virtually no culture of road conflicts. In Kyrgyzstan, however, mutual respect and solidarity are still underdeveloped. We must honestly acknowledge this. Will we continue to have conflicts on the roads or will we try to change?” – the official questioned.
Orunbekov also presented statistics on accidents in Kyrgyzstan, which raises concern:
“In 2025, there were 8,456 traffic accidents, resulting in 900 deaths and 12,169 injuries. Over the past 10 years, the figures are impressive: 75,063 accidents, 9,120 fatalities, and 113,260 injuries. Kyrgyzstan is one of the leaders in traffic mortality. Will we draw conclusions from this tragedy or continue to ignore the problem?” – he concluded.
In closing his address, Orunbekov noted that current measures are aimed at eradicating the consequences of the corrupt system of the past. He also published video material showing drivers who do not know the traffic rules and do not remember which driving school they attended.
“I am not publishing this to humiliate anyone. These people are a reflection of the corrupt schemes of the past. All our efforts are directed towards one goal – your well-being and the preservation of lives,” – Dayirbek Orunbekov summarized.
