Driving in Kyrgyzstan

Typical Intersection in Bishkek

Driving in Kyrgyzstan is not for the faint of heart. There is a kind of organised chaos to it. Drivers generally seem unaware of their surroundings.

The organized chaos consists of three main actors:
1) overly aggressive taxi drivers ignoring virtually all rules of the road
2) brazen pedestrians darting in front of cars where there is no pedestrian crossing
3) lumbering minibuses impeding traffic in general

Taxi drivers are unpredictable, and aggressive. For instance, sudden lane changes without using turn signals, driving on the wrong side of the road and ignoring taffic lights are common occurences.

Pedestrians, often wearing dark colors at night, stand in the middle of the right hand lane, and attempt to cross streets. Pedestrian crossings are not clearly marked.

Minibuses serve as obstacles that make the flow of traffic difficult for others on the road. They will block one or more lanes to let passengers off or on, make unsafe lane and drive with little to no regard of other vehicles. I've seen more collisions with minibuses than any other kind of vehicle.

Winter plowing and sanding of city streets is rare, resulting in ice accumulation that makes driving even more hazardous. Winter tires are essential

Kyrgyz drivers in general are often undisciplined. Traveling at unsafe speeds, driving at night without lights, and drunk driving are seemingly normal.

In 2011 1,164 people died in road traffic accidents in the republic. source 

I believe that poor enforcement is the cause. There are fines for breaking the traffic laws but they are only partially effective. My Kyrgyz friends have told me that the only purpose of the traffic police is to collect bribes. They never pay fines because it's cheaper and saves time to bribe traffic police at the scene.

This kind of enforcement creates three categories of drivers:
1)  'untouchable caste.' 1/3 of drivers that are judges, prosecutors, police, intelligence officials, high-ranked bureaucrats, deputies and so on. They are unreachable by law and the police.
2) 'penalty payers' 1/3 of drivers that have money and are able to bribe traffic police.
3) 'reluctant compliant' 1/3 of drivers that are afraid to be punished and try to follow the rules

Until there is real traffic law enforcement the problems will continue.