More PMVs off the road

 COMMUTERS in Lae are being affected by the fewer PMVs operating after police removed all defective vehicles from the roads.

In a joint operation during the Christmas holidays, police and the National Road Safety Authority officers, set up roadblocks to check on defective and unregistered vehicles and unlicenced drivers. 

The road blocks were set up around Lae city. 

It resulted in motorists being fined and defective and unregistered vehicles impounded.

It however has adversely affected people who depend on PMVs to move around.

Some PMVs drivers still operating are avoiding the roadblocks and making only short trips.

Lae resident Steven Usen who has lived in Lae for more than 20 years said he supported the road checks but there had been many similar operations in the past and yet un-roadworthy vehicles were still on the road.

“I think they only check the safety stickers and drivers licence which is not good,” he said. 

He supports the call by Morobe Governor Kelly Naru for a crackdown on the PMV industry to make it more viable for Morobeans to operate PMVs.

Sara Mina, a mother of three from Manus and a Lae resident said: “The quicker that policy is implemented, the better. 

“I understand the PMV operators are not being complemented by government and authorities to operate in a conducive environment as the Lae roads are full of potholes, the cost of parts and fuel is increasing.”

Peter Kingston, a grandfather from Morobe, said: “Most of the buses I travel in daily should be called wrecks. 

“I don’t why it is hard for government authorities to see this.”