Freedom Insurance CEO Azamat Kerimbayev believes any softening of penalties for driving under the influence is unacceptable. Instead, he advocates for stricter control mechanisms. Insurance companies have already taken steps in this direction: A drunk driver is responsible for covering all damages in the event of a traffic incident.
«In other words, any measures to ease legislation designed to prevent drunk driving are wrong,» Kerimbayev said at Freedom Practicum, a meeting between representatives of Freedom Holding and the media held in Almaty on Feb. 24.
«There is no need to soften the legislation. Instead, we must make it stricter,» he added.
Currently, insurance companies have only one tool to influence reckless drivers: the regress mechanism. If a driver causes a collision while intoxicated, they must pay for all damages.
However, this mechanism takes effect only after an incident has occurred, meaning it fails as a preventive measure. To reduce such incidents, Kerimbayev said, it is necessary not only to raise penalties but also to enforce stricter control.
He also highlighted the negative economic impact of drunk driving. While direct compensation for a fatal crash is approximately $16,000, the total financial loss to the state could reach as much as $199,900 per deceased citizen.
Experts argue that Kazakhstan’s entire insurance system needs reform. Currently, 72% of responsible drivers subsidize insurance for the 28% who violate traffic laws. A flexible tariff system would allow safe drivers to pay less, while repeat offenders would face sharp increases in insurance costs. Such a system, they say, would not only be fair but also effective in improving traffic safety.
In late February, MP Marat Kozhaev expressed a different stance on traffic legislation, advocating for its relaxation. He argued that the strict measures introduced in recent years to deter drunk driving are excessive.
