Traffic Police: High Time to Improve Driver’s License Check System

The purpose of carrying out driver’s license check points is to encourage license compliance and discourage unlicensed or suspended license drivers from driving. Conducting driver’s license check points is an integral part of the traffic police duty which requires careful positioning to ensure a clear view for approaching traffic.

Apparently, many people in Male’ have been tricking the traffic police lately, this has been very successful in avoiding check points. The moment an unlicensed motorist sees the traffic police at a check point, he slows down the motorcycle and parks it on the side of the road pretending that he stopped for an incoming phone call, spends a little time holding the cell phone to the ear and then slowly drives away to the opposite direction.

The most common technique that unlicensed motorists follow is the immediate turn around when they see the traffic police at check points, unfortunately no traffic police presence exists on the opposite direction of the road to monitor the “turn around motorists”.

How will the traffic police address this issue?

Male’ has the highest number of motor vehicles per population and land area in South Asia. In a land scarce like Male’, where the lanes and roads are narrow and packed with people and parked vehicles, this could be one sufficient reason for all of us to worry.

During February 2008, the traffic police averaged approximately 62 traffic accidents in Male’. According to a press release issued by the Police, statistics showed 33 cases of motorists violating the one-way traffic rule, 21 cases of driving without a license, 17 cases of driving while talking on the cell phone, 16 cases of speeding and nine cases of not obeying the traffic lights.

It is the duty of the Maldives Police Service to find innovative educational and enforcement methods to help minimize the accidents and protect this small community. This is not something that will be a short term commitment. Long term plans and programs must be established, monitored, and checked for effectiveness.