Lae police impound unroadworthy PMVs

By NICHOLAS SIREO
MORE than 100 PMV (public motor vehicle) buses in Lae were impounded by police yesterday following a joint operation by the police, National Road Safety Council and the provincial traffic registry
Lae Met Supt Anthony Wagambie Jr said the operation was carried out to remove un-roadworthy buses from operating in the city
“The lives of passengers, pedestrians and road users are at risk due to increasing number of un-roadworthy buses in the city. This is an ongoing problem for the city as Lae has become a dumping ground for old buses,” he told The National yesterday.
“These unroadworthy buses are putting the lives of passengers, pedestrians and other road users at risk. We have experienced many road accidents over the years due to this.”
Wagambie Jr said police units were deployed at the city’s main bus stops at Eriku, Top Town and Main Market to intercept the un-roadworthy buses.
“I have issued directives for these buses to be taken to the Traffic Registry to be thoroughly inspected. If they are found to be beyond working condition then they will be de-registered and taken off the road permanently,” he said.
He said that commuters travelling within the city’s routes deserved to travel in safe and comfortable buses instead of un-roadworthy buses.
“Most of these buses are operating without seats, windows and qualified drivers. They have become a menace to road users where they clog up the roads and breach traffic rules.”
He said the operation would be conducted again to prevent un-roadworthy buses from operating.