Rangoon traffic police have announced that they charged 12,000 drivers for traffic violations in just one week.

In an announcement on Friday, traffic authorities in the former Burmese capital said that during the previous seven days, they had caught some 12,000 drivers violating traffic regulations within the city. Typical offences, they said, were buses failing to keep to the right-hand lanes; vehicles driving on the wrong side of the road; highway buses driving within the city limits; and driving without a vehicle permit or correct documentation.

Fines for breaking traffic rules generally incurred a 1,500 kyat (US$1.50) fine, police authorities said.

There are around 600,000 registered vehicles in Rangoon Division, but only 1,000 traffic police, only 500 of whom were on patrol at any given time, the announcement said.

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