Kyrgyzstan extends driving school experiment until end of 2026

Kyrgyzstan has extended its experimental program for regulating driving schools and driver training until December 31, 2026. This move provides authorities with an additional four months to evaluate new methods for driver education before finalizing new rules.

The pilot program, which began on January 30, 2026, temporarily suspended licenses for private driving schools. During this period, only state-run institutions are authorized to conduct driver training. Officials stated the initiative aims to assess the current licensing system and develop improved standards for preparing new drivers.

President Sadyr Жапаров previously linked the reform to enhancing driver training quality and road safety. He highlighted long-standing issues of corruption within the driving school system and noted that some private schools reported over 90 percent pass rates. Official statistics indicate that approximately 75,000 traffic accidents occurred in Kyrgyzstan over the past decade, resulting in 9,120 fatalities.

The reform intends to establish uniform training requirements and strengthen both theoretical and practical aspects of driver education. The Presidential Affairs Administration is tasked with monitoring the program's implementation and submitting proposals for necessary legal acts by October 1, 2026.