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Uzbek
Uzbekistan is planning to introduce stricter penalties for violating traffic rules on dedicated public transport lanes. A draft law prepared by the responsible committee of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis has been submitted for discussion among political party factions.
According to the draft, amendments will be made to the Code of Administrative Responsibility to increase fines for using bus lanes. Currently, driving in a bus lane results in a fine of half the basic calculation amount (187,500 UZS). However, under the new draft law, fines will be increased by approximately 10 times:
- First offense: a fine equal to 3 times the basic calculation amount (1,125,000 UZS).
- Repeat offense within a year: a fine equal to 5 times the basic calculation amount (1,875,000 UZS).
Why Are These Measures Being Taken?
According to regulations, bus lanes are exclusively designated for public transport as well as emergency and special services (ambulance, fire, police). Other vehicles are strictly prohibited from using these lanes, except for entering or exiting adjacent properties, and only on sections with broken-line markings within 50 meters.
However, in practice, private vehicles frequently use these lanes, especially during rush hours, disrupting public transport and reducing its efficiency. Many drivers ignore the rules due to low fines and weak enforcement.
Are the Measures Justified?
On one hand, the initiative appears reasonable. Traffic congestion in major cities, especially in Tashkent, requires measures to improve the efficiency of public transport. Dedicated lanes are intended to facilitate the swift movement of buses and shuttles, making public transport more convenient and appealing.
Key Questions
Despite the justification, the proposal raises several concerns:
- Infrastructure: Are the roads ready for strict compliance with the new rules? Not all bus lanes are clearly marked or adequately equipped.
- Enforcement: How effectively will violations be monitored? Are there enough cameras and patrols to ensure the new measures are implemented?
Conclusion
Increasing fines for violations of bus lane rules may improve the efficiency of public transport but only if combined with other measures, such as better infrastructure, the installation of additional cameras, and improved traffic law enforcement. Otherwise, higher fines could merely serve as a means of boosting the budget without addressing the core issue of traffic management.
The article may contain inaccuracies as it is translated by AI. For more details, please refer to the Russian version of the article. If you notice any inaccuracies, you can send corrections via the Telegram bot: Uzvaibik_bot.
