Police have launched a special effort to better enforce the current roadworthiness regulations and are seeking to cancel roadworthiness permits of vehicles that do not fit the proper standards, starting from 1 January.
Police media official noted that roadworthiness violations are common and that the recent decision is a move towards better enforcing the current regulation.
“Now nobody sticks to the rules. This will solve the issue of [motorcycle] riders who have loud horns all those different kinds of lights. Most importantly, to enforce the current regulations,” the media official said.
The special operation to enforce roadworthiness regulation is being conducted jointly by the police and the Ministry of Transport and Communication.
Police said they will be focusing on checking; whether the brakes are fully functional, if the driving license is in good condition, if the vehicle has modified silencers, if the rear view mirrors are properly attached, if the vehicle’s lights and signals are in proper condition, if the vehicle expels black smoke from the exhaust, if there are any unusually loud horns attached to the vehicle, if the registration boards are in order, if the headlight and other lights have been modified and if the lights of signals have been altered.
Police have cautioned that the roadworthiness of those vehicles that do not fit the proper standards will be cancelled, even if there is room for expiry of the permit. Majority of the vehicles used in the Maldives are motorcycles and the streets of Male' are crowded with mopeds.