Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10TASHKENT186
2010-02-03 06:44:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tashkent
Cable title:
UZBEKISTAN: DEMARCHE ON DISTRACTED DRIVING DELIVERED
how-toVZCZCXRO4828 RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSL RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHNT #0186 0340645 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 030644Z FEB 10 FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1853 INFO ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS TASHKENT 000186
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON SOCI UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: DEMARCHE ON DISTRACTED DRIVING DELIVERED
REF: 10 STATE 6703
UNCLAS TASHKENT 000186
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON SOCI UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: DEMARCHE ON DISTRACTED DRIVING DELIVERED
REF: 10 STATE 6703
1. (U) On January 27, Post delivered reftel information on
distracted driving issues to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
requested the information be shared with the Ministry of Internal
Affairs, which has responsibility for enforcing driver safety.
Post will report substantive responses septel.
GENERAL INFORMATION REGARDING DISTRACTED DRIVING IN UZBEKISTAN
2. (U) Uzbekistan banned the use of mobile phones (talking or
texting) while driving in December 2006. The Law "On introduction
of amendments to the Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan on
Administrative Accountability" went into effect January 1, 2007.
At the time, information about the new regulations was published in
the local media, and relevant warnings were delivered to all cell
phone subscribers via SMS messages. Post is not aware of any
further nationwide awareness or education campaign regarding text
messaging and/or cell phone use while driving since this time.
(Note: As of January 1, 2009, the Government of Uzbekistan (GOU)
reports there are approximately 13 million cell phone users (about
50% of the population),and Uzbekistan is the largest mobile
telecommunications market in Central Asia.)
3. (SBU) Penalties for those caught violating mobile phone
rules are as follows: upon a first offense, a driver must pay a
fine equal to the current Uzbek monthly minimum wage (approximately
USD 24). If a second violation takes place within less than one
year, the government may impose a fine of the two to three times
the minimum wage or suspend a driver's license for a period of up
to six months. Despite the official ban on using cell phones while
driving, the practice is widespread and enforcement is generally
lax. It is not uncommon for violators simply to pay small bribes
to avoid fines and paperwork. Recently, however, Post has noticed
greater enforcement by local militia of seat belt rules, which must
be worn by passengers in the front seat. Whether this is a
harbinger of greater enforcement of other safety violations remains
to be seen.
4. (SBU) The Ministry of Internal Affairs released the
following data on fatalities, injuries or crashes for the eleven
month period ending November 2009. The reliability or process for
tallying statistics is unknown. Uzbekistan's population is 27
million.
- Accidents: 9,731;
- Died in accidents: more than 2,000, including 261 children;
- Injured in accidents: about 10,500, including about 1,500
children;
- Punished for use of cell phones: about 76,600 drivers;
- Punished for not using safety belts: more than 806,500 drivers;
and
- Punished for alcohol in blood: more than 64,200 drivers
Comment
5. (SBU) Post notes that many additional driving dangers
exist in Uzbekistan. Many roads are poorly maintained, and often
drivers ignore even basic traffic laws, including stopping at red
lights. Post personnel commonly report multi-vehicle accidents on
the way to and from work . While the Government of Uzbekistan
acknowledges the dangers of talking and texting while driving, and
Uzbekistan in fact outlaws cell phone use while driving,
enforcement and awareness of traffic laws remains a key challenge.
End Comment.
NORLAND
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON SOCI UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: DEMARCHE ON DISTRACTED DRIVING DELIVERED
REF: 10 STATE 6703
1. (U) On January 27, Post delivered reftel information on
distracted driving issues to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
requested the information be shared with the Ministry of Internal
Affairs, which has responsibility for enforcing driver safety.
Post will report substantive responses septel.
GENERAL INFORMATION REGARDING DISTRACTED DRIVING IN UZBEKISTAN
2. (U) Uzbekistan banned the use of mobile phones (talking or
texting) while driving in December 2006. The Law "On introduction
of amendments to the Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan on
Administrative Accountability" went into effect January 1, 2007.
At the time, information about the new regulations was published in
the local media, and relevant warnings were delivered to all cell
phone subscribers via SMS messages. Post is not aware of any
further nationwide awareness or education campaign regarding text
messaging and/or cell phone use while driving since this time.
(Note: As of January 1, 2009, the Government of Uzbekistan (GOU)
reports there are approximately 13 million cell phone users (about
50% of the population),and Uzbekistan is the largest mobile
telecommunications market in Central Asia.)
3. (SBU) Penalties for those caught violating mobile phone
rules are as follows: upon a first offense, a driver must pay a
fine equal to the current Uzbek monthly minimum wage (approximately
USD 24). If a second violation takes place within less than one
year, the government may impose a fine of the two to three times
the minimum wage or suspend a driver's license for a period of up
to six months. Despite the official ban on using cell phones while
driving, the practice is widespread and enforcement is generally
lax. It is not uncommon for violators simply to pay small bribes
to avoid fines and paperwork. Recently, however, Post has noticed
greater enforcement by local militia of seat belt rules, which must
be worn by passengers in the front seat. Whether this is a
harbinger of greater enforcement of other safety violations remains
to be seen.
4. (SBU) The Ministry of Internal Affairs released the
following data on fatalities, injuries or crashes for the eleven
month period ending November 2009. The reliability or process for
tallying statistics is unknown. Uzbekistan's population is 27
million.
- Accidents: 9,731;
- Died in accidents: more than 2,000, including 261 children;
- Injured in accidents: about 10,500, including about 1,500
children;
- Punished for use of cell phones: about 76,600 drivers;
- Punished for not using safety belts: more than 806,500 drivers;
and
- Punished for alcohol in blood: more than 64,200 drivers
Comment
5. (SBU) Post notes that many additional driving dangers
exist in Uzbekistan. Many roads are poorly maintained, and often
drivers ignore even basic traffic laws, including stopping at red
lights. Post personnel commonly report multi-vehicle accidents on
the way to and from work . While the Government of Uzbekistan
acknowledges the dangers of talking and texting while driving, and
Uzbekistan in fact outlaws cell phone use while driving,
enforcement and awareness of traffic laws remains a key challenge.
End Comment.
NORLAND