Authority must clean up our roads

 WE applaud moves by the newly-formed Road Traffic Authority to make our roads and streets safer for motorists and pedestrians.

Acting chief executive officer Nelson Terema told The National this week the authority would implement a more stringent system for the issuing of driving licences and vehicle registrations.

He said the authority would have a centralised data system to ensure that all vehicle licencing and registration followed set rules. As well, new fees and fines would be implemented.

The authority will take over the functions of the National Road Safety Council, National Land Transport Board, Land Transport Division and the registry functions of the Motor Vehicle Insurance Limited (MVIL). Terema revealed there were about 105,000 drivers and up to 120,000 vehicles throughout Papua New Guinea, in­cluding those operating with­out licences. The statistics for unlicensed drivers and unregistered vehicles are yet to be disclosed by MVIL.

We have emphatically said time and again that our roads and streets, especially in major centres like Port Moresby and Lae, are dangerous or unsafe places. Terema has confirmed one of our concerns, saying that road accidents and traffic congestion are caused by the increase in the number of unroadworthy vehicles and drivers who are given licences without undergoing proper tests. 

Our other concern was confirmed by Transport Department Secretary and superintendent of traffic Roy Mumu who said too many road accidents were caused by irresponsible and negligent drivers. “It brings to surface the question: How do these drivers obtain their licences?” Mumu said this week. 

The worst culprits, at least in the capital city, seem to be PMV buses and taxi drivers. It can be safely said that more than half the PMV buses and taxis in Port Moresby are uroadworthy and their drivers either do not have licences or have obtained them without proper tests and through dubious means.

Nonetheless, these cowboys and their road unworthy vehicles are allowed to use public roads illegally because authorities like the police have little or no control over them.

The regular roadblocks are largely ineffective because only a few culprits are caught. Some members of the NCD police are known to have compromised their duties by accepting bribes from unlicensed drivers and demanding payments from others. Central police commander Laimo Asi this week warned the public to be wary of police personnel who were demanding money illegally from drivers.

Asi urged drivers to report officers who obtained money illegally from them for traffic offences by issuing bogus traffic notices.

NCD traffic police officer-in-charge acting Chief Inspector Philip Koliadi war­ned people about the traffic infringement notices, saying they should note the issuing officer’s name, rank and section or station to ensure the notice was genuine.

We agree with Koliadi that police personnel should not confiscate drivers’ licences because they would be allowing the driver to drive without a licence, which is an offence. This malpractice is common among rogue police personnel who are confiscate drivers’ licences in return for cash payments. 

Road safety and the adherence of traffic laws must become a top priority for the police and the new Road Traffic Authority.

Aside from the proper issuing of drivers’ licences and registration of roadworthy vehicles, other measures must be undertaken to make our thoroughfares safe.

These include the installing of spot cameras with police presence at traffic light intersections and the introduction of alcohol breath-testing for drivers. 

The NCD is full of drunken drivers who think they own the road. They too must be halted in their tracks.

There is another group of reckless drivers who apparently cannot be reined in because of the lack of laws that govern the use of mobile phones while driving a motor vehicle. 

Despite much external research that shows that mobile phones distract motorists, PNG has yet to come up with specific laws that stop motorists from using their handsets while driving. It is a risky and dangerous practice that must not be condoned by the authorities.