An unusual observation by a foreigner about the behavior of Kazakh drivers sparked a heated discussion on social media. A friend of a user from Germany, while traveling through Astana and Almaty, was surprised that a turn signal is often perceived by other road users as a signal not to yield, but rather to speed up and close the 'window' for the maneuver. This situation generated numerous comments, where drivers argue whether this behavior is a typical feature of local roads, reports infohub.kz.

'Why, when I'm driving around the city and want to make a maneuver, I turn on my turn signal, and the car behind suddenly accelerates to prevent me from doing it? Even though it was driving calmly before,' the foreigner wondered.

Many users admitted that they regularly encounter such behavior. One participant believes that it's not just about drivers, but also about the road conditions: 'I drive abroad like your German friend, but as soon as I come to Astana, it's like I'm reprogrammed. Our road infrastructure itself encourages this: tons of traffic lights every 100 meters, traffic jams out of nowhere, you sit, get angry, and don't let anyone in. The level of aggression is very high.'

Others are sure that many see the road as a competition: 'Everyone is conditioned like that – don't yield, push through, and better yet, don't let anyone overtake you and be first.' Some add: 'It's in our blood! It's not us, it's life.' One participant was more blunt: 'Savages, that's all. And just angry people, the internet fuels them and life oppresses them.'

However, not everyone agreed. Some users noted that they always let cars with turn signals in: 'For example, when someone in front of me wants to change lanes, I always let them in!' Another added: 'Personally, I let them in, but only if they used their turn signal. If they cut in rudely, then no!'

Some blamed the lane changers themselves. In their opinion, the problem often arises from drivers who drive in the fast lane until the last moment and then try to squeeze in right before a turn: 'The right lane is slow, but you changed lanes in advance. Others fly by on the left and then start asking to get into your lane to turn right. If they don't let you in, the problem is with the whiners, not the other drivers.'

Participants also noted that driving culture varies by region, and such behavior is not unique to Kazakhstan: 'It's the same in Bishkek. In Moscow – rarely.'

Most motorists agreed on one thing: mutual respect on the road would make traffic calmer and safer.

Earlier, 'Kursiv' reported that Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called for improving driving culture in Kazakhstan. According to him, many accidents occur due to gross violations of traffic rules, not road conditions. It was also reported that dangerous drivers would be identified using AI before they cause accidents.