Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — In 2024, Uzbekistan recorded 9,364 road traffic accidents, with 3,045 (or 32.5%) involving freight and passenger transport, Minister of Transport Ilkhom Makhkamov reported during a session of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis.

Among accidents involving cargo and passenger vehicles, the highest number occurred with Damas microvans, which are widely used as public transport. They accounted for 52.3% (1,592 cases), followed by trucks with 558 accidents (18.3%), buses with 137 cases (4.5%), and minibuses with 29 incidents (0.95%).

A key concern highlighted in the report was driver drowsiness. A total of 351 accidents (3.7% of all cases) resulted from drivers falling asleep at the wheel due to violations of work and rest schedules. These incidents led to 189 fatalities and 285 injuries.

Drowsy driving remains one of the most common causes of road accidents worldwide. Experts recommend that drivers strictly adhere to rest schedules, particularly on long trips, to prevent tragic outcomes.

According to previously reported data, road accidents in 2024 resulted in 8,901 injuries and 2,203 deaths. While specific statistics on children affected in 2024 were not provided, data from previous years indicate that in 2023, 1,794 accidents involved children, leading to 1,568 injuries and 263 fatalities. In 2022, during the first 10 months, 226 children lost their lives in accidents, though full-year data was not published.