Starting from February 5, Kyrgyzstan will not allow drivers of right-hand drive cars to offer taxi services. This was reported by the Yandex Taxi drivers, who have received notifications about the new rules, Sputnik reports.
According to available information, right-hand drive cars will be permitted only for delivery services, and if drivers want to work as taxi drivers, they should change a car.
The initiative caused a mixed reaction on social media. Many users are supporting the decision as a way to improve road safety, but a significant number of drivers and passengers are opposing it, noting that right-hand drive vehicles make up a large share of the taxi fleet.
On January 22, members of Zhogorku Kenesh voted for the draft law on taxi service licences and the ban on right-hand drive vehicles. A parliamentarian Dastan Bekeshev voted against the law, noting that it would come into force 6 months after the President signs it, presumably closer to September 2025. Bekeshev expressed concern that the new restrictions would trigger the growth on the shadow taxi market.
