The Addu City council soon begin dialogue with the Maldives Police Service (MPS) in order to find a solution to the frequent accidents that occur in the city, said Mayor Abdulla Sodiq.

Sodiq told RaajjeMV that one of the biggest reasons for Addu City’s frequent road accidents are, in addition to drivers breaking the speed limit, the lack of adequate lighting on major roads, lack of speed breakers, and lack of road signs.

He further said that the Housing Ministry had moved a number of street lights placed on less busy roads to those that are heavily used, resulting in some roads being dangerously unlit.

Mayor Sodiq also said that given how Addu City does not have driving school of its own, the government has silenced residents to learn on the road – which is also conducive of dangerous situations.

The MPS had recently conducted ‘Dhuveli Matha’ operation, which translates to ‘Deceleration’ or ‘Speed Control’.

It was aimed at ensuring road safety as officers had placed barricades and check posts to stop and penalize those who violate the speed limit or in other ways display reckless driving.

Officers searched 315 vehicles in the operation and six vehicles had been subject to penalty for violation of traffic regulations.

A similar police operation last month had penalized 11 drivers and searched 492 vehicles.