Motorists using private vehicles to transport paying passengers could be placing themselves and their passengers at serious financial risk.

The warning has come from chief executive officer of CG United Randy Graham, who said insurers will not respond if those vehicles are involved in accidents.

The Alliance Owners of Public Transport (AOPT) has called for urgent action to address what it says is a growing problem of illegal operators on Barbados’ roads. It has raised concerns about an increase in unlicensed vehicles transporting passengers for hire, particularly along the ABC Highway and Speightstown routes, arguing that the practice threatens passenger safety and undermines legitimate public service vehicle operators (PSVs).