---
title: "The Crazy President of Turkmenistan Just Banned Women From Driving"
description: "Fresh of banishing black cars from Turkmenistan based on a superstitious hunch, the country's strong-arm leader has one-upped himself by officially banning women from driving in the central Asian republic."
date: "2018-01-12"
modified: "2018-01-12"
authors:
  - name: "Kyle Cheromcha"
    job_title: "Editor-in-Chief"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/kyle-cheromcha"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/17615/the-crazy-president-of-turkmenistan-just-banned-women-from-driving"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "ban"
  - "driving"
  - "Saudi Arabia"
  - "Turkmenistan"
  - "women"
---

# The Crazy President of Turkmenistan Just Banned Women From Driving

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Fresh of [banishing black cars from Turkmenistan](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/17562/turkmenistan-government-is-towing-away-black-cars-report>) based on a superstitious hunch, the country's strong-arm leader has one-upped himself by officially banning women from driving in the central Asian republic.

President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov reportedly issued the edict in December at the request of Turkmenistan's Interior Minister, who argued that women drivers are responsible for the majority of car accidents in the country, [according to *AKI Press.*](<https://akipress.com/news:600602/>) Police have begun enforcing the law in earnest this month, seizing the licenses and vehicles of women caught driving.

Last year, Saudi Arabia [took the first steps](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/14658/saudi-arabia-will-finally-allow-women-to-drive>) towards ending its notorious prohibition on women drivers, the last such policy in the world at the time. But it seems Berdymukhamedov is willing to risk further global infamy by taking the Saudi government's place as the last one standing.

To recap, this comes on the heels of Berdymukhamedov prohibiting citizens from owning black cars because he believes they are unlucky. Drivers have reported having their cars towed away and being given instructions to pay an exorbitant amount for a [new paint job](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/13109/thiefs-terrible-paint-job-fails-to-stop-cops-from-finding-stolen-ford-gt40-replica>) before getting it back, with [white being the color of choice](<https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-30999095>) for the regime. Of course, being the boss means you don't have to play by the rules: Berdymukhamedov himself drives a [bright green Bugatti Veyron.](<https://www.cbsnews.com/news/turkmenistan-president-gurbanguli-berdymukhamedov-wins-countrys-maiden-race/>)

But this ban on women drivers feels entirely more sinister. [According to the *Chronicles of Turkmenistan*,](<https://en.hronikatm.com/2018/01/turkmen-females-holding-driving-license-requested-to-re-sit-the-driving-test/>) women with driver's licenses have also been receiving random phone calls from police asking for information on how they passed the test and paid for their vehicle. And with no written decree in place, police officers who have stopped women drivers simply "refer to verbal instructions issued by higher-ranking authorities."

Just following orders, ma'am. It's turning out to be a terrible year for drivers—and everyone, really—in Turkmenistan.

## Author
Overseeing an expert staff of writers and editors from his lair in Los Angeles, Kyle shapes The Drive’s singular approach to covering the automotive industry and car culture. He’s been with the site as a writer since 2017, taking over as editor in 2019. On a daily basis, Kyle is responsible for directing The Drive's editorial news and car review content strategies, setting special coverage priorities, managing complex reporting projects, and ensuring what you read on the page meets our high internal standards for quality and trustworthiness. He is also the executive producer of The Drive's YouTube channel, which was relaunched in February 2024 to great acclaim and has accumulated over 14M new views in its first year back on the scene. He hosts a biweekly series on the channel where he breaks down fascinating and complicated stories from the automotive world.

### Author social links  
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[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-cheromcha-1550248a/>)