Authorities urged to address unroadworthy vehicles in city

ILLICIT and narcotic investigation team head Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Donald Yamasombi has urged road traffic authorities to address an increasing number of unroadworthy vehicles in the city.
He made the call after his narrow escape from what could have been a nasty accident involving an unroadworthy Public Motor Vehicle (PMV) that was operating in one of the city routes.
ACP Yamasombi said: “Lately the city roads are being flooded with unroadworthy vehicles and careless drivers that pose great risk to the city residents and genuine road users.
“As per our record, road traffic accidents are occurring on a daily basis and this is a grave concern that needs immediate attention.
“We have enough road traffic regulations that need effective implementation and enforcement.
“The police are ready to assist but we need the responsible authorities to make the call for us to assist as they have the regulatory powers.
“I’m calling on the responsible authorities to look into this growing concern as it is no longer safe for city residents to use.”
He said most of the PMVs operating in the city and those travelling in from Central and Gulf needed to be thoroughly checked as they were no longer roadworthy and safe for public usage.
“I had similar incidents in the past, but, the recent one nearly cost my life and what concerns me most is that the vehicle operated with many defects and should have been grounded had the authorities done regular traffic spot-checks,” he said.
ACP Yamasombi said other traffic offences such as driving and parking on the footpath, traffic island and flowerbeds were an eyesore in the city and these behaviours needed to be dealt with as well.

Public Motor Vehicles in Port Moresby yesterday. Assistant Commissioner
of Police Donald Yamasombi has urged the road traffic authorities to address
the increasing number of unroadworthy vehicles, particularly PMVs, in the city.
– Nationalpic by JOEL HAMARI