Maldives Police Service (MPS) has attributed the recent decline in traffic violations to the increased efforts to raise public awareness.
Speaking to PSM News, Inspector of Police Inspector Ibrahim Khaleel said the MPS has stepped up efforts through special operations to coincide with the New Year.
He said that more than 1,000 vehicles have been stopped and checked in the capital Male’ and the reclaimed suburb Hulhumale’ during the New Year holidays.
Police have given special emphasis to enforcing traffic regulations and vehicle registrations during the operation, he added.
"In the operations conducted since December 24, nearly 1,000 vehicles have been stopped and checked in Hulhumale’ alone. Not even twenty vehicles were found to have any violations,” Khaleel explained.
“That was quite evident when we noticed that the driving license, annual fee and road worthiness were mostly valid and up to date. The public seems to be paying more attention to safety and traffic rules.”
MPS has recently launched several initiatives, including more traffic checkpoints and community policing to raise public awareness on road safety and traffic regulations.
Khaleel said such initiatives appear to have had the desired effect, with more people abiding by the road and traffic regulations than ever before.