Authorities set to shutter illegal auto repair shops
THE Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT) and National Police jointly announced they will continue to inspect and shut down illegal car repair garages across the country. The goal is to lower the rate of traffic accidents nationwide.
The commitment was made on Tuesday during a meeting at the Ministry of Interior between the MPWT and the National Police.
MPWT Minister Sun Chanthol said the joint commitment is part of tightening the road traffic law, which has significantly reduced deaths and injuries in the past few months.
National Police deputy chief Him Yan told reporters that Chanthol and National Police chief Neth Savoeun agreed to prevent all illegal vehicle repairs and increase inspections of faulty vehicles.
Yan said the two institutions expect the cooperation of law enforcement forces across the country in clamping down on traffic offences, including inspections of all repair shops.
“Savoeun has said he has instr ucted prov incia l police chiefs to cooperate [with MPWT] to carr y out practica l inspections of garages. We sent a letter to t he prov incia l board of governors to do this work. And t he Ministr y of Interior will join i n t he inspections if necessar y,” Yan said.
He said both parties also issued instructions to relevant officials to increase cooperation in managing and inspecting traffic signs on national roads, inspecting overweight vehicles and deploying cameras.
Kong Sovann, a technical adviser and deputy director of the Community Traffic Safety Programme team of Rural Road Development Project Phase 2 at the Ministry of Rural Development, told The Post the two institutions should work together to prevent these problems.
Sovann said he wants both institutions to take more targeted measures to control speed and alcohol consumption, which are factors in high-fatality accidents.
Kong Sovann said there are examples of successful experiences in developed countries and some neighbouring countries in the implementation of traffic law enforcement projects. He said it involves complying with three standards.
He said the three standards are education, respect for road laws and enforcement.