THE Yangon Traffic Police Force last week starting focusing its law enforcement efforts on private vehicles in an effort to reduce traffic infractions in the city.

“When we analyse accident rates we see a general reduction for all types of vehicles except private cars, so we are paying more attention to those vehicles,” said Traffic Police Lieutenant Colonel Aung Naing, the commander of Yangon Division Wireless and Traffic Police Force.

He said some of the most common infractions among drivers of private vehicles included underage driving, speeding, double parking and parking in restricted zones.

In its effort to target private cars, the police force has formed 45 inspection teams led by police officers to look for infractions.

Reversing a previous decision to stop sending teams out after 6pm due to a reduction in the number of police, the traffic force is now sending out 14 teams out from 6pm to 10pm and seven teams from 4am to 6am.

“When the number of traffic police was reduced in Yangon, inspections were also reduced so people stopped following traffic regulations,” said Lt Col Aung Naing. “Now we have recruited more police so we have more inspection teams.”

He said police have also been posted at traffic lights to record information about lawbreakers – including number plate, type and colour of car, place, date, time and type of rule violation.

“We will publish information about cars that break traffic rules in Point Journal.
“We will also prevent these drivers from buying any fuel from petrol stations until they have paid their fines,” he said.

Lt Col Aung Naing said police will also test drivers for alcohol and drug use.
“We have breathalyzers for on-the-spot alcohol testing.

“We will take action if we find they have been drinking,” he said. “For people we suspect of drug use, we will take them to the hospital to be tested.”