Over 8,000 drunk driving cases recorded in Uzbekistan in four months

Between January and April 2025, a total of 8,445 cases of driving under the influence of alcohol were recorded in Uzbekistan, according to Zoir Yuldoshev, spokesperson for the Main Directorate of Road Traffic Safety, speaking to Kun.uz.

He stated that courts have already issued rulings in 7,582 of these cases: each offender was fined 15 million UZS (equivalent to 40 times the base calculated value) and had their driver’s license revoked for up to three years. Judicial proceedings are still ongoing for the remaining 863 cases.

“A person who gets behind the wheel while intoxicated can rightfully be called a potential killer. Only someone who values neither their own life nor the lives of others would dare to drive drunk. We, along with our regional traffic units, regularly conduct special operations to identify such violations and ensure that punishment is inevitable,” Yuldoshev emphasized.

According to statistics, the number of drunk driving offenses has been steadily increasing. In 2020, around 23,000 drivers faced court proceedings for drunk driving, while in 2024, the figure exceeded 26,000.

The highest number of violations in 2024 was recorded in Samarkand Region (4,204 cases), followed by Khorezm region (2,768), and the Republic of Karakalpakstan (2,669). The lowest figures were reported in Namangan (757) and Syrdarya (562) regions.

Earlier, it was reported that in the Bakhmal district of Jizzakh region, a drunk driver fatally struck two sisters, aged 4 and 13, who were crossing the street at a pedestrian crosswalk. The driver was sentenced to a lengthy prison term.