peru’s Aging Combi Fleet: A Road Safety Crisis Looms as 35-Year-Old Vehicles Remain on the Road
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Peru‘s public transportation system is facing a growing safety concern as a meaningful number of aging combis – vans used for public transport – continue to operate despite their age and questionable roadworthiness. With up to 1,300 combis over 35 years old currently for sale on platforms like Facebook Marketplace,priced between 16,000 and 60,000 soles,the issue highlights a regulatory gap and potential risks for commuters.
A Market for Aging Vehicles
The sale of these older vehicles is particularly prevalent in Lima and Callao, but extends beyond Facebook Marketplace, with sales also occurring on TikTok and WhatsApp groups. A seller told Commerce that many buyers are located in regions where enforcement of transport regulations is lax, and the combis are used for both passenger and cargo transport.
Regulatory Concerns and the MTC’s Role
The situation has sparked criticism of the Ministry of Transport and communications (MTC) and its current regulations. Transport expert Luis Quispe Candia argues that the MTC’s 2024 resolution allowing public transport vehicles, including combis and custers, to operate for up to 35 years is an “aberration.”
“The national vehicle Regulations, approved by Supreme Decree, establishes that the maximum age of passenger transport vehicles must be 15 years,” Quispe Candia explained. “The MTC itself, knowing this standard is in force, issued a ministerial resolution that allows vehicles to circulate until 35 years old.”
He further criticized the current vehicle scrapping program,stating it focuses on abandoned vehicles rather than those actively circulating and posing a safety risk. “That scrap program only includes vehicles that are in the tank, not the scrap vehicles that are on the road. That makes no sense. The program should be to remove vehicular units that are over 15 years old.”
The Risk of Accidents and Questionable Inspections
The poor condition of these aging vehicles is a major concern. Franklin Barreto, a specialist in transit, transport, and road safety, emphasized that vehicles exceeding their useful life – typically 15 years – are frequently enough used for extended periods daily, increasing the risk of mechanical failure and accidents.
“One of the main causes of accidents on the roads is the poor state of vehicles,” Barreto warned. He also questioned the rigor of technical inspections, suggesting that certificates are sometimes obtained through irregular payments. “These technical review centers are sold to the highest bidder, and that is seen in the different accidents.”
The Urban transportation Authority for Lima and Callao (ATU) has initiated a scrapping process targeting informally operating vehicles lacking safety standards. As of August, 236 units had been scrapped, with plans to reach 500 by the end of the year.The ATU has also removed 287 vehicles from service for operating without authorization,including four over 35 years old.
The Superintendence of Land Transportation of People, Load and Merchandise (Sutran) has also joined the effort, scrapping 22 vehicles in August and planning to expand the program to other regions by 2026.
However,a particularly concerning case highlighted by Commerce involved “The Beast of Petit Thouars,” a 41-year-old custer with 21 outstanding capture orders and over three million soles in unpaid fines,which was finally scrapped in June. The vehicle had been operating informally without SOAT or a technical inspection certificate.
A system Under Strain
The continued operation of aging combis underscores a broader failure to establish an integrated and efficient transport system.According to one expert, at least 50% of customary transport vehicles in circulation are over 20 years old. The extension of the vehicle circulation period to 35 years is seen as a temporary fix driven by high demand, but one that compromises passenger safety.
The situation demands a complete review of transport regulations and a more effective vehicle scrapping program to ensure the safety of Peru’s commuters.
