PETITION FOR FAIR AND PRACTICAL VEHICLE ROADWORTHINESS INSPECTIONS IN VANUATU
PETITION FOR FAIR AND PRACTICAL VEHICLE ROADWORTHINESS INSPECTIONS IN VANUATU
The issue
To the Government of Vanuatu and the authority responsible for vehicle roadworthiness inspections
We, the undersigned residents and motorists of Vanuatu, respectfully request a review of the current system for annual vehicle roadworthiness inspections.
We fully support regular vehicle inspections and appropriate roadworthiness standards. Vehicles with unsafe brakes, tyres, steering, suspension, structural corrosion, lighting or other defects that create a genuine safety risk should not be permitted on Vanuatu’s roads until those defects are repaired.
However, we are concerned that aspects of the current inspection system are unnecessarily rigid and can penalise responsible vehicle owners without providing a corresponding road-safety benefit.
1. A reasonable inspection window
At present, vehicle owners are required to personally present their vehicle for its annual roadworthiness inspection on a specific date. There is currently no leeway to attend before or after that date without being fined.
In practice, this is extremely impractical. People have work commitments, may be travelling, or may be sick or otherwise unable to attend on that particular day. The inspection facility can also be extremely busy, there can be lengthy queues, and there are occasions when inspections are unavailable or the facility is closed.
A motorist who is genuinely attempting to comply with the law should not be penalised because it is impossible or impractical to have the vehicle inspected on one particular day.
We ask that Vanuatu introduce a six-week inspection window before the vehicle’s annual renewal date, allowing a vehicle to be presented for its roadworthiness inspection at any time during that period without penalty, while retaining the vehicle’s existing annual renewal date. This approach would be in line with inspection arrangements used in other countries and would provide motorists with greater flexibility to comply with the law.
Vehicle owners, or a representative on their behalf, should be permitted to present the vehicle for inspection up to six weeks before the due date, while retaining the vehicle’s existing annual renewal date.
2. Clear and reasonable standards for rust, headlights and cosmetic defects
We are concerned about vehicles reportedly failing roadworthiness inspections for relatively minor or superficial defects, including surface rust and cloudy, hazy or discoloured headlight lenses.
Vanuatu is a tropical island country where vehicles are routinely exposed to high humidity, heavy rainfall, strong sunlight and salt-laden coastal air. These conditions can contribute to surface corrosion and deterioration or discolouration of plastic headlight lenses, even where a vehicle remains mechanically sound and safe to drive.
We agree that serious corrosion affecting a vehicle’s chassis, suspension mounting points, braking components, steering components, seatbelt anchorages or other structural or safety-critical areas should result in a failed inspection.
However, minor surface rust or cosmetic corrosion that does not compromise the structural integrity or safe operation of a vehicle should not, by itself, make that vehicle unroadworthy.
Similarly, a headlight lens should not fail simply because it appears cloudy, hazy or discoloured. The relevant consideration should be whether the deterioration materially reduces the effectiveness of the headlight, interferes with the required beam or otherwise creates a genuine safety issue.
We therefore ask that inspectors be provided with clear written standards distinguishing:
cosmetic or superficial surface corrosion;
corrosion requiring monitoring or repair;
structural corrosion that makes a vehicle unsafe;
cosmetic deterioration or discolouration of headlight lenses; and
deterioration of a headlight that materially affects its light output, beam or safe operation.
Where a vehicle fails because of corrosion or the condition of a headlight lens, the owner should be told what specific safety standard the vehicle has failed and why the defect makes the vehicle unsafe or unroadworthy.
3. Transparent and consistent inspection standards
Vehicle owners should be able to understand in advance what is required for a vehicle to pass an inspection.
We ask the responsible authority to publish a clear roadworthiness inspection checklist setting out the standards applied to brakes, tyres, steering, suspension, lights, headlights, windscreens, seatbelts, bodywork, corrosion and other inspected components.
The same standards should be applied consistently by all inspectors.
Where a vehicle fails, the owner should receive a written or electronic record identifying the specific reason or reasons for failure and the repairs required before reinspection.
What we are asking the Government to do
We respectfully request that the Government of Vanuatu and the responsible road transport authority:
Introduce a six-week annual roadworthiness inspection window before the vehicle’s renewal date, rather than requiring motorists to attend on one exact date.
Allow a vehicle owner to nominate a representative to present the vehicle for inspection on their behalf.
Ensure motorists are not penalised where inspections cannot reasonably be completed because the inspection facility is closed, unavailable or unable to accommodate demand.
Publish clear and objective vehicle roadworthiness standards.
Introduce specific guidelines distinguishing superficial rust from corrosion that genuinely compromises vehicle safety or structural integrity.
Introduce objective standards for headlight lenses so that cosmetic cloudiness, hazing or discolouration alone does not result in a failed inspection unless it materially affects the safe operation or effectiveness of the headlights.
Require inspectors to provide a clear reason and identify the relevant safety issue whenever a vehicle fails an inspection.
Ensure roadworthiness requirements are applied consistently and focus on genuine vehicle and road safety risks.
Our position
This petition is not seeking weaker road-safety standards.
We support removing genuinely dangerous vehicles from Vanuatu’s roads.
We are asking for a system that is safe, transparent, consistent and practical — one that recognises the realities of operating vehicles in Vanuatu and makes it easier for responsible motorists to comply with the law.
___________________________________________________________________________
PETISEN BLONG WAN STRET MO PRAKTIKOL SISTEM BLONG ROADWORTHY INSPEKSEN LONG VANUATU
I go long Gavman blong Vanuatu mo atoriti we i responsibol long roadworthy inspeksen blong ol trak mo kendaraan
Mifala, ol man mo woman we oli saenem petisen ia, we oli stap long Vanuatu mo oli draevem o ona long wan kendaraan, mifala i askem wetem respek se Gavman i lukluk bakegen long sistem blong yia-yia roadworthy inspeksen blong ol kendaraan.
Mifala i sapotem fulwan se ol kendaraan oli mas gat regular inspeksen mo oli mas kasem ol stret road safety standard. Wan kendaraan we i gat problem long brake, tyre, steering, suspension, serious rust long structure, light, o wan narafala problem we i save mekem kendaraan i no sef, i no sud stap long rod kasem taem we oli fiksim problem ia.
Be mifala i gat konsen se sam pat blong sistem we i stap naoia i strong tumas mo i save panisim ol responsible vehicle owner nating se i no gat wan stret road-safety benefit.
1. Wan reasonable taem blong mekem inspeksen
Naoia, vehicle owner i mas tekem kendaraan blong hem i go long annual roadworthy inspeksen long wan stret date. I no gat tumas flexibility blong go bifo o afta long date ia, mo sapos yu let, yu save kasem faen.
Long practical laef, hemia i had tumas. Ol man oli gat wok, maet oli stap travel, oli sik, o oli no save go long stret dei ia. Inspection facility tu i save busy tumas, queue i save longfala, mo samtaem inspeksen i no available o office i close.
Wan motorist we i stap traem blong folem loa i no sud kasem panis from we i no possible o i had tumas blong tekem kendaraan i go long inspeksen long wan stret dei nomo.
Mifala i askem se Vanuatu i putum wan six-week inspection window bifo long annual renewal date blong kendaraan, blong mekem se kendaraan i save go long roadworthy inspeksen eni taem insaed long six wik ia, mo annual renewal date blong kendaraan i stap semak. Sistem olsem bae i givim moa flexibility long ol motorist blong oli save folem loa.
Vehicle owner, o wan representative we owner i givim raet long hem, i sud save tekem kendaraan i go long inspeksen kasem six wik bifo long due date, mo annual renewal date blong kendaraan i stap semak.
2. Ol clear mo reasonable standard blong rust, headlights mo cosmetic defects
Mifala i gat konsen tu se sam kendaraan oli fail long roadworthy inspeksen from ol smol o superficial problem, olsem smol surface rust mo headlight lens we i kam cloudy, hazy o i change colour.
Vanuatu i wan tropical island country we ol kendaraan oli stap oltaem long high humidity, bigfala ren, strong san mo salt long air klosap long solwota. Ol condition ia oli save mekem surface rust i kamaot mo plastic headlight lens i kam cloudy o i change colour, nating se kendaraan i stap mechanically sound mo sef blong draevem.
Mifala i agri se serious rust o corrosion we i affectem chassis, suspension mounting points, braking components, steering components, seatbelt anchorages o narafala structural o safety-critical part blong kendaraan, i sud mekem kendaraan i fail long inspeksen.
Be smol surface rust o cosmetic corrosion we i no affectem strength, structure o safety blong kendaraan i no sud, hem wan nomo, mekem kendaraan i fail long roadworthy inspeksen.
Long sem fasin, wan headlight lens i no sud fail nomo from we i luk cloudy, hazy o i change colour. Impoten samting i sud be se condition blong lens ia i mekem light i no strong inaf, i affectem beam blong headlight, o i mekem wan real safety problem.
From samting ia, mifala i askem se ol inspector oli gat clear written standards we oli soemaot difference bitwin:
cosmetic o superficial surface rust;
rust o corrosion we i nidim monitoring o repair;
structural corrosion we i mekem kendaraan i no sef;
cosmetic deterioration, cloudiness o discolouration blong headlight lens; mo
deterioration blong headlight we i really affectem light output, beam o safe operation blong headlight.
Sapos wan kendaraan i fail from rust, corrosion o condition blong headlight lens, owner i sud kasem wan clear explanation we i talem wanem specific safety standard kendaraan i fail long hem mo from wanem defect ia i mekem kendaraan i no sef o i no roadworthy.
3. Ol inspection standard oli mas clear mo consistent
Ol vehicle owner oli sud save bifo long inspeksen wanem nao kendaraan i mas gat blong i save pass.
Mifala i askem responsible authority blong publishim wan clear roadworthiness inspection checklist we i talemaot ol standard blong brakes, tyres, steering, suspension, lights, headlights, windscreens, seatbelts, bodywork, corrosion mo ol narafala component we inspector i checkem.
Ol inspector evriwan oli sud yusum sem standard long sem fasin.
Sapos wan kendaraan i fail, owner i sud kasem wan written o electronic record we i talem stret wanem problem i mekem kendaraan i fail mo wanem repair i nidim bifo long reinspection.
Wanem mifala i askem Gavman blong mekem
Mifala i askem wetem respek se Gavman blong Vanuatu mo responsible road transport authority i:
Putum wan six-week annual roadworthiness inspection window bifo long renewal date blong kendaraan, be i no fosem motorist blong go long wan exact date nomo.
Letem vehicle owner i save givim raet long wan representative blong tekem kendaraan i go long inspection long behalf blong hem.
Mekem sua se motorist i no kasem faen o panis sapos inspection i no save happen from inspection facility i close, service i no available, o facility i busy tumas blong tekem kendaraan.
Publishim ol clear mo objective vehicle roadworthiness standards.
Putum ol specific guideline we oli soemaot difference bitwin superficial rust mo corrosion we i really affectem safety o structural integrity blong kendaraan.
Putum objective standards blong headlight lenses, blong mekem se cosmetic cloudiness, hazing o discolouration nomo i no mekem kendaraan i fail, sapos condition ia i no materially affectem safety o effectiveness blong headlights.
Mekem se inspector i mas givim wan clear reason mo talem wanem safety issue i stap, evri taem wan kendaraan i fail long inspection.
Mekem sua se roadworthiness requirements oli apply long sem fasin long evriwan mo oli focus long ol genuine vehicle mo road safety risks.
Position blong mifala
Petisen ia i no askem blong mekem road-safety standards oli weak.
Mifala i sapotem se ol kendaraan we oli really dangerous oli no sud stap long ol rod blong Vanuatu.
Samting we mifala i askem, hem i wan sistem we i sef, clear, consistent mo practical — wan sistem we i understandem ol real condition blong yusum kendaraan long Vanuatu mo we i mekem i isi moa long responsible motorists blong oli folem loa.
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The issue
To the Government of Vanuatu and the authority responsible for vehicle roadworthiness inspections
We, the undersigned residents and motorists of Vanuatu, respectfully request a review of the current system for annual vehicle roadworthiness inspections.
We fully support regular vehicle inspections and appropriate roadworthiness standards. Vehicles with unsafe brakes, tyres, steering, suspension, structural corrosion, lighting or other defects that create a genuine safety risk should not be permitted on Vanuatu’s roads until those defects are repaired.
However, we are concerned that aspects of the current inspection system are unnecessarily rigid and can penalise responsible vehicle owners without providing a corresponding road-safety benefit.
1. A reasonable inspection window
At present, vehicle owners are required to personally present their vehicle for its annual roadworthiness inspection on a specific date. There is currently no leeway to attend before or after that date without being fined.
In practice, this is extremely impractical. People have work commitments, may be travelling, or may be sick or otherwise unable to attend on that particular day. The inspection facility can also be extremely busy, there can be lengthy queues, and there are occasions when inspections are unavailable or the facility is closed.
A motorist who is genuinely attempting to comply with the law should not be penalised because it is impossible or impractical to have the vehicle inspected on one particular day.
We ask that Vanuatu introduce a six-week inspection window before the vehicle’s annual renewal date, allowing a vehicle to be presented for its roadworthiness inspection at any time during that period without penalty, while retaining the vehicle’s existing annual renewal date. This approach would be in line with inspection arrangements used in other countries and would provide motorists with greater flexibility to comply with the law.
Vehicle owners, or a representative on their behalf, should be permitted to present the vehicle for inspection up to six weeks before the due date, while retaining the vehicle’s existing annual renewal date.
2. Clear and reasonable standards for rust, headlights and cosmetic defects
We are concerned about vehicles reportedly failing roadworthiness inspections for relatively minor or superficial defects, including surface rust and cloudy, hazy or discoloured headlight lenses.
Vanuatu is a tropical island country where vehicles are routinely exposed to high humidity, heavy rainfall, strong sunlight and salt-laden coastal air. These conditions can contribute to surface corrosion and deterioration or discolouration of plastic headlight lenses, even where a vehicle remains mechanically sound and safe to drive.
We agree that serious corrosion affecting a vehicle’s chassis, suspension mounting points, braking components, steering components, seatbelt anchorages or other structural or safety-critical areas should result in a failed inspection.
However, minor surface rust or cosmetic corrosion that does not compromise the structural integrity or safe operation of a vehicle should not, by itself, make that vehicle unroadworthy.
Similarly, a headlight lens should not fail simply because it appears cloudy, hazy or discoloured. The relevant consideration should be whether the deterioration materially reduces the effectiveness of the headlight, interferes with the required beam or otherwise creates a genuine safety issue.
We therefore ask that inspectors be provided with clear written standards distinguishing:
cosmetic or superficial surface corrosion;
corrosion requiring monitoring or repair;
structural corrosion that makes a vehicle unsafe;
cosmetic deterioration or discolouration of headlight lenses; and
deterioration of a headlight that materially affects its light output, beam or safe operation.
Where a vehicle fails because of corrosion or the condition of a headlight lens, the owner should be told what specific safety standard the vehicle has failed and why the defect makes the vehicle unsafe or unroadworthy.
3. Transparent and consistent inspection standards
Vehicle owners should be able to understand in advance what is required for a vehicle to pass an inspection.
We ask the responsible authority to publish a clear roadworthiness inspection checklist setting out the standards applied to brakes, tyres, steering, suspension, lights, headlights, windscreens, seatbelts, bodywork, corrosion and other inspected components.
The same standards should be applied consistently by all inspectors.
Where a vehicle fails, the owner should receive a written or electronic record identifying the specific reason or reasons for failure and the repairs required before reinspection.
What we are asking the Government to do
We respectfully request that the Government of Vanuatu and the responsible road transport authority:
Introduce a six-week annual roadworthiness inspection window before the vehicle’s renewal date, rather than requiring motorists to attend on one exact date.
Allow a vehicle owner to nominate a representative to present the vehicle for inspection on their behalf.
Ensure motorists are not penalised where inspections cannot reasonably be completed because the inspection facility is closed, unavailable or unable to accommodate demand.
Publish clear and objective vehicle roadworthiness standards.
Introduce specific guidelines distinguishing superficial rust from corrosion that genuinely compromises vehicle safety or structural integrity.
Introduce objective standards for headlight lenses so that cosmetic cloudiness, hazing or discolouration alone does not result in a failed inspection unless it materially affects the safe operation or effectiveness of the headlights.
Require inspectors to provide a clear reason and identify the relevant safety issue whenever a vehicle fails an inspection.
Ensure roadworthiness requirements are applied consistently and focus on genuine vehicle and road safety risks.
Our position
This petition is not seeking weaker road-safety standards.
We support removing genuinely dangerous vehicles from Vanuatu’s roads.
We are asking for a system that is safe, transparent, consistent and practical — one that recognises the realities of operating vehicles in Vanuatu and makes it easier for responsible motorists to comply with the law.
___________________________________________________________________________
PETISEN BLONG WAN STRET MO PRAKTIKOL SISTEM BLONG ROADWORTHY INSPEKSEN LONG VANUATU
I go long Gavman blong Vanuatu mo atoriti we i responsibol long roadworthy inspeksen blong ol trak mo kendaraan
Mifala, ol man mo woman we oli saenem petisen ia, we oli stap long Vanuatu mo oli draevem o ona long wan kendaraan, mifala i askem wetem respek se Gavman i lukluk bakegen long sistem blong yia-yia roadworthy inspeksen blong ol kendaraan.
Mifala i sapotem fulwan se ol kendaraan oli mas gat regular inspeksen mo oli mas kasem ol stret road safety standard. Wan kendaraan we i gat problem long brake, tyre, steering, suspension, serious rust long structure, light, o wan narafala problem we i save mekem kendaraan i no sef, i no sud stap long rod kasem taem we oli fiksim problem ia.
Be mifala i gat konsen se sam pat blong sistem we i stap naoia i strong tumas mo i save panisim ol responsible vehicle owner nating se i no gat wan stret road-safety benefit.
1. Wan reasonable taem blong mekem inspeksen
Naoia, vehicle owner i mas tekem kendaraan blong hem i go long annual roadworthy inspeksen long wan stret date. I no gat tumas flexibility blong go bifo o afta long date ia, mo sapos yu let, yu save kasem faen.
Long practical laef, hemia i had tumas. Ol man oli gat wok, maet oli stap travel, oli sik, o oli no save go long stret dei ia. Inspection facility tu i save busy tumas, queue i save longfala, mo samtaem inspeksen i no available o office i close.
Wan motorist we i stap traem blong folem loa i no sud kasem panis from we i no possible o i had tumas blong tekem kendaraan i go long inspeksen long wan stret dei nomo.
Mifala i askem se Vanuatu i putum wan six-week inspection window bifo long annual renewal date blong kendaraan, blong mekem se kendaraan i save go long roadworthy inspeksen eni taem insaed long six wik ia, mo annual renewal date blong kendaraan i stap semak. Sistem olsem bae i givim moa flexibility long ol motorist blong oli save folem loa.
Vehicle owner, o wan representative we owner i givim raet long hem, i sud save tekem kendaraan i go long inspeksen kasem six wik bifo long due date, mo annual renewal date blong kendaraan i stap semak.
2. Ol clear mo reasonable standard blong rust, headlights mo cosmetic defects
Mifala i gat konsen tu se sam kendaraan oli fail long roadworthy inspeksen from ol smol o superficial problem, olsem smol surface rust mo headlight lens we i kam cloudy, hazy o i change colour.
Vanuatu i wan tropical island country we ol kendaraan oli stap oltaem long high humidity, bigfala ren, strong san mo salt long air klosap long solwota. Ol condition ia oli save mekem surface rust i kamaot mo plastic headlight lens i kam cloudy o i change colour, nating se kendaraan i stap mechanically sound mo sef blong draevem.
Mifala i agri se serious rust o corrosion we i affectem chassis, suspension mounting points, braking components, steering components, seatbelt anchorages o narafala structural o safety-critical part blong kendaraan, i sud mekem kendaraan i fail long inspeksen.
Be smol surface rust o cosmetic corrosion we i no affectem strength, structure o safety blong kendaraan i no sud, hem wan nomo, mekem kendaraan i fail long roadworthy inspeksen.
Long sem fasin, wan headlight lens i no sud fail nomo from we i luk cloudy, hazy o i change colour. Impoten samting i sud be se condition blong lens ia i mekem light i no strong inaf, i affectem beam blong headlight, o i mekem wan real safety problem.
From samting ia, mifala i askem se ol inspector oli gat clear written standards we oli soemaot difference bitwin:
cosmetic o superficial surface rust;
rust o corrosion we i nidim monitoring o repair;
structural corrosion we i mekem kendaraan i no sef;
cosmetic deterioration, cloudiness o discolouration blong headlight lens; mo
deterioration blong headlight we i really affectem light output, beam o safe operation blong headlight.
Sapos wan kendaraan i fail from rust, corrosion o condition blong headlight lens, owner i sud kasem wan clear explanation we i talem wanem specific safety standard kendaraan i fail long hem mo from wanem defect ia i mekem kendaraan i no sef o i no roadworthy.
3. Ol inspection standard oli mas clear mo consistent
Ol vehicle owner oli sud save bifo long inspeksen wanem nao kendaraan i mas gat blong i save pass.
Mifala i askem responsible authority blong publishim wan clear roadworthiness inspection checklist we i talemaot ol standard blong brakes, tyres, steering, suspension, lights, headlights, windscreens, seatbelts, bodywork, corrosion mo ol narafala component we inspector i checkem.
Ol inspector evriwan oli sud yusum sem standard long sem fasin.
Sapos wan kendaraan i fail, owner i sud kasem wan written o electronic record we i talem stret wanem problem i mekem kendaraan i fail mo wanem repair i nidim bifo long reinspection.
Wanem mifala i askem Gavman blong mekem
Mifala i askem wetem respek se Gavman blong Vanuatu mo responsible road transport authority i:
Putum wan six-week annual roadworthiness inspection window bifo long renewal date blong kendaraan, be i no fosem motorist blong go long wan exact date nomo.
Letem vehicle owner i save givim raet long wan representative blong tekem kendaraan i go long inspection long behalf blong hem.
Mekem sua se motorist i no kasem faen o panis sapos inspection i no save happen from inspection facility i close, service i no available, o facility i busy tumas blong tekem kendaraan.
Publishim ol clear mo objective vehicle roadworthiness standards.
Putum ol specific guideline we oli soemaot difference bitwin superficial rust mo corrosion we i really affectem safety o structural integrity blong kendaraan.
Putum objective standards blong headlight lenses, blong mekem se cosmetic cloudiness, hazing o discolouration nomo i no mekem kendaraan i fail, sapos condition ia i no materially affectem safety o effectiveness blong headlights.
Mekem se inspector i mas givim wan clear reason mo talem wanem safety issue i stap, evri taem wan kendaraan i fail long inspection.
Mekem sua se roadworthiness requirements oli apply long sem fasin long evriwan mo oli focus long ol genuine vehicle mo road safety risks.
Position blong mifala
Petisen ia i no askem blong mekem road-safety standards oli weak.
Mifala i sapotem se ol kendaraan we oli really dangerous oli no sud stap long ol rod blong Vanuatu.
Samting we mifala i askem, hem i wan sistem we i sef, clear, consistent mo practical — wan sistem we i understandem ol real condition blong yusum kendaraan long Vanuatu mo we i mekem i isi moa long responsible motorists blong oli folem loa.
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Petition created on 16 September 2026