News

National Road Safety Strategy Launched in Kyrgyz Republic

On 3rd April 2013, the presentation of the National Road Safety Strategy took place at the Ministry of Transport and Communication of the Kyrgyz Republic.

In attendance were the Vice Prime Minister Mr. T. Sarpashev, Regional Conflict Advisor of the British Embassy Roy Wilson, Transport Ministry State Secretary Maksatbek Dyikanov, Deputy Minister Mamaev, representatives of relevant ministries, international financial institutions, and the media.

The road safety strategy was developed within the World Bank project “Institutional development and preparation of priority activities on road safety improvement and sustainability of road works in Kyrgyzstan”. The strategy includes recommendations to reform the Road Patrol Service of Kyrgyzstan in addition to more than 60 other recommendations.

Project Leader Anthony Pearce (left) delivers the National Road Safety Strategy. Chinara Kasmambetova (right) representing EASST partner Road Safety NGO

Chinara Kasmambetova, Director of EASST’s Kyrgyz partner Road Safety NGO, attended the launch and delivered a speech on the seriousness of the road safety problem in the country. According to the statistics, every year in the Kyrgyz Republic more than 1,000 people die on the roads costing the country $US 250 million or 4.3% of GDP annually. At 2 190 deaths/million vehicles in 2011, the Kyrgyz Republic has the worst rate in the world.

The event concluded with the State Secretary of the Transport Ministry expressing special gratitude to the authors of the National Road Safety Strategy.