Penalize rogue drivers

IT is so unfortunate to read about the increasing numbers of road accidents around the country almost every day.
The number of casualties and injuries devastate some families.
This happens because their lives are in the hands of a rogue driver who does not value and respect the lives of the passengers and has zero respect for other law-abiding drivers on the road.
Being a daily commuter, especially during the rush hours, I note that the number of vehicles have increased 10 to 20 times from 2015 in Port Moresby and the number of taxis (both legal and illegal) have tripled.
Most of the PMV and taxi drivers are either illiterate and have no self-discipline.
They disregard laws and disrespect fellow drivers on the road.
They ignore or don’t know the traffic rules.
They drive on footpaths and overtake on the wrong side and push into the small gap of vehicles patiently waiting on the queue for their turn.
The latest trend is some other drivers also follow this tactic of these taxi drivers and PMV drivers outsmarting the law-abiding drivers waiting patiently for the clearance.
And the road construction at the traffic signals in North Waigani is worsening this situation.
Hundreds of commuters take the back road which is unsealed and with hundreds of potholes.
Many school going kids walk to nearby schools using this road.
Some rogue drivers speeding through the wrong lane splash muddy waters into the uniforms of these little kids and it is heart breaking to see.
Presence of traffic police are also not regular at the cross junction of the Morata road leading to Parliament.
This is going to worsen in the coming years.
Instead of having a roundabout or expansion of the junction, the most suitable way to increase that part of the city is to have an overhead bridge like Waigani and Hohola tunnel on freeway.
The Waigani Drive to Gerehu must pass through the bridge, while Morata-Tokarara vehicles could pass through the tunnel to avoid the traffic congestion.
My humble suggestion is to have the traffic police remove vehicles that do not meet safety standards immediately.
Also be strict with rogue PMV and taxi drivers who violate the traffic rules and cancel their driving licenses.
Also issue PMV and taxi drivers special licences and coloured badges to display in their vehicle for the passengers to see it.
Make sure every PMV and taxi drivers have an acceptable dress code to wear on duty to keep the dignity of job.
Please try to bring and set up a standard like Singapore or Australia for the taxi and PMV drivers.
Also the parliamentarians and NCD Governor can think to change the school hours and office hours to avoid hectic traffic.

Francis
Daily commuter, Pom