avtomaktablar / Mistakes
Y1
In short: in the first year, new drivers rarely get caught out by not knowing the rules. It is a handful of habits: following too closely, rarely checking mirrors, rushing lane changes and overconfidence after month three. Below are the mistakes instructors see most often in former students, and what to do about them.
Why the first year is the riskiest
At driving school you have an instructor with a second brake pedal. After the exam, you don't. In the first weeks most new drivers are careful: slow, in the right lane, parking wherever there's space. The risk comes later, around months three and four. Your hands now work on autopilot and confidence grows, but you have no experience of difficult situations yet. That's when most former students have their small accidents: a scraped bumper in a car park, a tap on the car ahead in a Mukimi Street jam, a motorcycle missed during a lane change.
The good news is that almost all of these are predictable. If you know them in advance, many simply won't happen.
Ten first-year mistakes
1. Not displaying the new driver sign
Point 176 of Uzbekistan's Traffic Rules requires drivers with under two years of experience to put a yellow 150 mm square with a black "!" on the back of the car. Many feel embarrassed by it. They shouldn't: the sign works for you. Taxis and minibuses give you more room, and police understand who they are dealing with. It costs very little, so fit it before your first solo drive.
2. Following too closely
The Tashkent habit of "leave no gap or someone will cut in" doesn't suit a beginner. Your reactions are still slower than those of someone with ten years behind the wheel. Use the two-second rule: pick a post the car ahead passes and count "one-and, two-and". If you reach the post first, you're too close. In rain, count to four. The first rain after a hot summer is especially dangerous, as dust and oil make the asphalt slippery.
3. Checking mirrors only occasionally
Mirrors are checked on the exam, then forgotten. The habit to build: a glance every 5–8 seconds, and always before braking, changing lanes or turning. Before a lane change, also turn your head to check over your shoulder. On wide roads like Amir Temur Avenue or the Small Ring Road, motorcycles and scooter couriers hide easily in blind spots.
4. Changing lanes in one movement
New drivers switch on the indicator and move across straight away. The right order is mirror, indicator, a 2–3 second pause, shoulder check, then a smooth move. The pause gives the driver behind time to notice you. If you miss your lane for a turn, carry on and turn around later. Cutting across two lanes is a common cause of crashes among beginners.
5. Driving at "everyone else's" speed
Traffic on an avenue may be doing 80 km/h, but the limit in Tashkent is 60 km/h, with 70 km/h allowed on some signed sections. Cameras cover all major roads. Fines under Article 128-3 of the Administrative Code, as of October 2026:
| Over the limit by | Fine |
|---|---|
| up to 20 km/h | 1 BCV |
| 20–40 km/h | 5 BCV |
| 40–60 km/h | 9 BCV |
| more than 60 km/h | 15 BCV |
BCV is the base calculation value (BRV/BHM), the unit Uzbekistan uses for fines. From 1 September 2026, 1 BCV is 440,000 soum. It is revised regularly, so calculate any fine using the value on the date of the offence. When calculating, 5 km/h is deducted from the recorded speed to allow for measurement error.
6. Ignoring penalty points
Uzbekistan has run a penalty point system since 2025 (Article 34-1 of the Administrative Code). Certain offences, including speeding and running a red light, add points on top of the fine, up to two per offence. Points last one year. If the total for a year goes over 12, a court suspends the licence for at least six months. For a beginner this is a real risk: a few "small" camera-recorded speeding offences add up faster than you'd expect. You can check your points in the E-jarimaball service.
7. Phone in hand
A quick look at a hand-held navigator at 60 km/h means 15–20 metres driven blind. Using a phone without a hands-free kit gets a warning or a 3 BCV fine under Article 128-1. Fit a dashboard holder and set your route before you set off.
8. Parking by guesswork
Most first-year damage happens while parking: bollards outside supermarkets, kerbs in residential yards, the car next to you. Two habits prevent most of it. First, in an unfamiliar spot, get out and check how much room you have. Nobody will laugh. Second, reverse in when you can: leaving is then easier and safer. There is a step-by-step guide in our article on parallel parking and reversing into a garage.
9. Someone else's car and the insurance policy
Many new drivers use a parent's car. Check the OSAGO policy. If it covers named drivers only and you aren't on it, that's an offence under Article 135-1, and it can complicate a payout after an accident. The fix is simple: get added to the policy before your first drive.
10. "Helpful" passengers
Friends in the car, loud music and advice from the back seat all take attention a beginner can't spare. For the first months, carry no more than one calm passenger. If someone rushes or eggs you on, you're entitled to pull over and say you'll drive your own way.
If you do have an accident
- Stop, switch on the hazard lights and set out the warning triangle.
- If anyone is hurt, call 103 (ambulance) and 102 (police) and don't move the car.
- Photograph the position of the cars, the damage, number plates and the road layout.
- Don't sign anything you don't understand, and don't agree cash settlements on the spot without a record.
After a first accident, even a minor one, many people are afraid to drive again. That's normal. Don't wait too long: after a day or two, drive a short, familiar route at a quiet time. If the fear stays, our article on overcoming fear of driving can help.
A plan for the first year
| Period | Do | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Month 1 | Familiar routes, weekend mornings, one passenger | Rush hour, night, rain |
| Months 2–3 | New districts, multi-lane roads, roundabouts | Matching the traffic's speed |
| Months 4–6 | Evening drives, daytime trips out of town | Overconfidence, phone use |
| Months 7–12 | Night, rain, long routes | Building up penalty points |
If there are places you avoid, such as roundabouts or multi-level junctions, don't let them pile up. Book 2–3 hours with an instructor just for those spots. You can find a private instructor by district and gearbox in the Tashkent instructors section. For advice on routes and times for first drives, see our guide to driving in Tashkent as a beginner.
Top up your practice
Plenty of people get a licence and then hardly drive. The longer the break, the harder it is to start. A few hours with an instructor, in your own car or a training car, removes most of the fear and corrects habits picked up in the first months.
Leave a request through our school and instructor matching form with your district and what you want to practise. We'll suggest options from the Tashkent driving school catalogue, and the choice stays with you.
FAQ
Is the 'new driver' sign mandatory in Uzbekistan?
Yes. Under point 176 of the Traffic Rules, a driver with less than two years of experience must display a yellow 150 mm square with a black exclamation mark on the rear of the car.
How many penalty points lead to losing the licence?
Under Article 34-1 of the Administrative Code, points are counted over one year. If the total exceeds 12, a court suspends the licence for at least six months. A single violation adds no more than two points.
Can a new driver use their parents' car?
Yes, if you hold a licence for that category and are listed on the compulsory motor insurance (OSAGO) policy, or the policy has no driver limit. Driving outside the policy terms is an offence under Article 135-1.
When can a new driver go on the highway?
There is no formal ban. In practice, wait until you have 2–3 months of regular city driving, and go in daylight. Ideally, do your first highway trip with an experienced driver beside you.
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