The Ministry of Public Works and Transport has issued fines to 1,122 overloaded lorries in the first five months of this year. MPWT
The Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT) has issued fines to 1,122 overloaded lorries in the first five months of this year. These violations were spotted amongst over one million vehicles examined, with penalties amassing a total of approximately 1.77 billion riel.
A report unveiled by the ministry on June 19 specified that during the year’s initial five months, a comprehensive check of 1,312,579 vehicles was carried out. Of these, 886,765 were found compliant with the law, whereas an alarming 425,814 vehicles, or 32.44 per cent, were laden beyond legal limits.
“Among the transgressing vehicles, we’ve penalised 1,122, collecting roughly 1.77 billion riels in fines. Additionally, 55 lorries have been seized for a year,” the report disclosed.
The report also noted that leniency was shown to 424,692 overweight vehicles, as they surpassed the legal weight limit by less than five per cent.
At a meeting on June 19, Seng Chhuon, secretary of state of the MPWT and chairman of the Standing Coordinating Committee for the Inspection of Overloaded Trucks, appealed to the authorities to rigorously enforce the law. He highlighted the importance of ethical conduct and cooperation with relevant partners.
Kim Pagna, Cambodia country director for the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation (AIP), lauded the ministry’s efforts to uphold the law and impose fines on overloaded vehicles for road traffic control. He said the number of penalised vehicles in the recent five months was a positive sign, reflecting the ministry’s strict adherence to rules and regulations.
“It is imperative that the ministry and associated institutions, especially those in the capital and provinces, take these measures seriously. I urge the ministry to persist with these controls to virtually eradicate overloaded vehicles,” he added.
Pagna also suggested the ministry adopt additional measures to decrease the number of overloaded vehicles, including revoking a driver’s license or long-term impounding. He urged the ministry to install safety cameras along busy routes and augment mobile inspection teams to prevent damage to highway infrastructure.
He said stringent enforcement of traffic laws will ultimately safeguard vital infrastructure and, most importantly, human lives.
