Vientiane authorities get motoring on electric tricycle inspections

Vientiane authorities will begin stricter checks on electric tricycles and motorcycle sidecars in the capital with more illegally making their way onto the city’s streets.
Head of the transportation management division under Vientiane Public Works and Transport Department, Mr Sivone Subthavy told Vientiane Times yesterday the department will soon cooperate with traffic police and other involved sectors to inspect all electric tricycles and motorcycle sidecars in the capital.

“Electric tricycles and motorcycle sidecars are allowed to be used only inside factory or company areas, but now they are found on main roads in Vientiane with many involved in road accidents according to statistics from the police,” he said.
He noted previously, the department issued notices to districts in the capital on the inspection and management of tricycles in factory and business compounds, but the vehicles weren’t allowed on public roads. Unfortunately, many are now frequenting many streets in the city.
“The majority of electric tricycles have no number plate, vehicle license or other documents, which makes it difficult to manage when road accidents occur. So we are planning to inspect all three-wheelers and modified motorbikes,” he explained.
“When officials find tricycles and motorcycle sidecars on main roads they will first re-educate the drivers and issue a ticket for violating the regulations, but next time they will confiscate the vehicles for three to six months or issue larger fines according to the law,” Mr Sivone said.
The number of motor vehicles in the country continues to rise, especially in Vientiane, which causes traffic congestion on main thoroughfares, particularly in rush hour.
Last year’s statistics revealed Laos had about 1.8 million vehicles with 843,500 registered in Vientiane alone. A majority of them were motorcycles, according to the Vientiane’s Vehicle Control Unit of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.

By Phomphong Laoin
(Latest Update December 13, 2019)