Uzbekistan may introduce administrative liability and driver's license suspensions for violating child transportation safety rules. The Prosecutor General’s Office has published the draft legislation for public discussion.
The bill proposes adding a new section, Article 128-11, to the Code of Administrative Liability specifically addressing violations of child passenger safety and the improper organization of child transportation.
Under the proposed law, failing to follow child safety rules while driving would result in a fine of 30 base reference values (BRV), which amounts to 12.36 million soums, alongside a mandatory suspension of driving privileges for one to three years.
If the violation is committed by someone who does not hold a driver's license or has already been stripped of their driving privileges, the proposed penalty escalates to a fine of 50 BRVs (20.6 million soums) or administrative detention for up to 15 days.
The bill also introduces distinct penalties for organizations or individuals responsible for organizing child transport transport services. A first-time violation would carry a fine of 30 BRVs. A repeat offense within a year of the initial penalty would see the fine increase to 50 BRVs
The draft emphasizes that despite ongoing road safety reforms, children still account for a disproportionately high percentage of traffic accident casualties (though specific accident statistics were not disclosed). Failure to comply with safety requirements when transporting minors is cited as a primary cause of this trend.
The Prosecutor General’s Office notes that current legislation lacks sufficiently clear and effective penalties for such violations, which in turn fosters a culture of non-compliance.
This legislative push follows several severe incidents. In May, a bus driver in the Romitan district of the Bukhara province was convicted on three separate charges—including violating passenger transport rules—after being caught driving children while intoxicated. Under current laws, the transport violation carried a meager fine of just 2 BRVs. Ultimately, the court handed down a combined fine of 40 BRVs (16.48 million soums).
Prior to that incident, a tragic accident occurred in the Navoiy province when a Daewoo Matiz carrying 14 kindergarten children crashed. The driver succumbed to her injuries in the hospital, and all 14 children sustained various degrees of trauma and required hospitalization.
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