CMVIC Inspection Company on Thursday launched the opening of its fourth mobile vehicle inspection centre in Phnom Penh.

The new centre will help increase access to vehicle services and potentially reduce traffic accidents and environmental pollution caused by vehicle defects and emissions.

It is located along Street 598 in Russey Keo district’s Chraing Chamreh II commune, about 200m from the General Department of Land Transport.

Its three other centres are located along Street 217 in Dangkor district, National Road 1 in Chbar Ampov district and National Road 6A in Chroy Changvar district.

Men Pheak, the head of the newly-opened centre, told The Post on Thursday that it is equipped with modern automotive tools such as those used to inspect exhaust pipes, fuel gauges, speedometers, seats, car horns, taillights and headlights.

“[With these tools], we can spend only five minutes checking one vehicle for technical defects,” he said, adding that the new centre had three entrances to accommodate inspections of around 300 vehicles a day.

Speaking at the launch event, Minister of Public Works and Transport Sun Chanthol said this year, some 300,000 out of 600,000 vehicles had been checked to ensure they conformed to regulations governing safety and emissions.

“So some 300,000 vehicles are still to be checked. [I call on] vehicle owners to please bring your vehicles for checks before the deadline. Otherwise you will incur penalties and fines from traffic police,” he said.

He said according to an annual report by the National Committee on Road Traffic Safety, traffic accidents had killed an average of five people and injured 11 others daily.

The accidents were caused by people exceeding the speed limit, disregarding traffic signs and road markings, drink driving and driving without reasonable consideration for other road users.

“Obeying the traffic laws and bringing vehicles for regular inspections contribute to reducing traffic accidents,” he said.

Chanthol continued that from 2000 up to this year, the CMVIC had established 13 checking centres across the country. Four centres are situated in Phnom Penh, while the other nine are located in Kampong Chhnang, Battambang, Siem Reap, Preah Vihear, Kratie, Mondulkiri, Kampong Speu and Preah Sihanouk provinces.

The company also has four mobile inspection vehicles which provide fast and effective inspection services to vehicle owners.

Chantol requested that the company establish more vehicle inspection centres to make its services more accessible to the public.