Original article and image by EASST

In February 2026, the Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Kyrgyz Republic formally approved the use of our new Road Safety Design Guidance through Ministerial Order No. 43.

The guidance was developed by EASST, iRAP, the International Road Federation (IRF) and UNESCAP as part of a UN Road Safety Fund project supporting safe and inclusive road design across Central Asia.

In Kyrgyzstan, as in much of the region, the rapid expansion of international transport corridors has often outpaced the implementation of modern road safety design. Traditional engineering approaches have tended to prioritise vehicle movement, frequently overlooking the needs of vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and communities living alongside high-speed roads.

The Safe and Inclusive Road Design in Central Asia project aimed to address this gap by providing engineers and infrastructure planners with practical tools to design roads that are safer for all users.

Developed by international road safety expert Paul Disney and finalised in June 2025, the guidance offers a practical framework for reducing road injuries through:

• Safe System principles, aligning road infrastructure with the local technical regulations such as GOST-SNiP standards.
• Inclusive design approaches, with a particular focus on protecting vulnerable road users during the construction and rehabilitation of international roads.
• Standardised safety practices, promoting consistent approaches across the design, construction and operation of highways.

Following the completion of the project, EASST’s national partner, Public Association ‘Road Safety’, supported the document through a comprehensive review process with specialists from the Ministry and the Design and Survey Institute.

Speaking at the closing event of the project in June 2025, Ulanbek Sultanov of the Ministry of Transport and Communications said:

“The recommendations don’t just give general safety criteria, but provide detailed examples of how to solve specific issues. This makes the work much easier for designers when making decisions.

The recommendations are very well-prepared… We will definitely recommend these materials to other design companies in Kyrgyzstan and to universities that train our future personnel.”

Despite administrative changes and leadership transitions within the Ministry, ‘Road Safety’ maintained progress through technical seminars and direct consultations. This sustained engagement ensured the guidance was recognised not simply as another report, but as a practical solution supporting Kyrgyzstan’s national road safety priorities. The Ministry’s Department of Control and Supervision has now been tasked with ensuring that all relevant structural divisions are trained in the new requirements.

By adopting these guidelines as official policy, the Kyrgyz Republic is setting an important precedent for the region, demonstrating how technical expertise, partnership and political commitment can help transform road design and ultimately save lives.