Japanese to study PNG roads

THE 2008 Global Road Status road safety report of Papua New Guinea has recommended the use of a Japanese Technology and firm to undertake a feasibility study to build and operate railway system.  
This is part of the committee’s recommended interventions and suggestions that will be handed over to the Works, Transports and Civil Aviation Minister Don Polye and the National Road Safety Council executive director Frank Aku on Friday.
The committee suggested a city tram or train system to alleviate traffic congestion and set up a national train system to link Highlands and Coastal areas to save road maintenance cost and give alternate transport options for the people who are subjected to high airfares. 
“Japanese technology is the best in the world in building subways and over-land train systems.
“They can build railways under sea and over swaps and lakes.
“Japan is also situated in an unstable and tremor prone region like Papua New Guinea.
“They have built their train system to withstand such tremors.”
The report highlights the following to be the common causes of PNG road traffic accidents: 
* Speeding (most be alcohol/drug related); 
* Inattentiveness; 
* Pedestrian at fault (road design not suitable for pedestrians); 
* Driving under influence of alcohol/drug; and 
* Unregistered faulty vehicles.
The report recommendations was facilitated by the Health Department Lifestyle unit in collaboration with Police Traffic Directorate, NRSC, MVIL, Lands and Transport Division, St John Ambulance and Port Moresby General.
Lifestyle Diseases Dr Thomas Vinit said this collaboration was the first in the country to compile PNG road traffic information for the first World Health Organisation sponsored Global Status Road Safety Report.