The reward program is intended to help reduce the number of traffic accidents like this one in downtown Yangon last month. Pic: Aye Zaw Myo

THE Yangon Division Supervisory Committee Ensuring Smooth and Secure Transport has asked the public to report infractions of traffic rules set by the Yangon Division Traffic Rule Enforcement Committee.

“Anyone who informs the police when they see someone breaking traffic rules will get a reward equal to eight percent of the fine,” said an official from the committee.

Fines for breaking traffic rules can range from K1500 to K300,000 depending on the nature and degree of the violation.

The initiative was announced at a July 14 meeting of the meeting Supervisory Committee Ensuring Smooth and Secure Transport held at Kone Myint Thar Hall in Mayangone township and went into effect on July 17.

The official from the committee said that informants must supply evidence of the infraction, such as photographs or written documents that mention the accident site, the types of vehicles involved and the registration numbers of the vehicles.

“We have three objects for the program: to reduce the number of road accidents, to catch rule breakers without depleting the human resources of the police department and to encourage drivers to obey the rules,” the official said.

In the first four months of 2007 there were 479 traffic accidents resulting in 58 deaths and 847 injuries in the Yangon municipal area, according to statistics from the Yangon Division Traffic Rule Enforcement Committee.