Respect, obey traffic rules

THE traffic intervention operations campaign currently conducted in the National Capital District should not be one-off but become permanent until motorists’ behaviours change.
For far too long, motorists have been defying all traffic regulation – every rule in the traffic book is being broken under the sun and efforts to correct it has always been on an ad hoc basis.
The National for years has written editorials on the illegal and dangerous practice of motorists especially running the red lights at traffic light intersections.
The main culprits used to be the reckless PMV drivers who are now joined by other senseless motorists who realise there is nothing to stop them from running the red lights and breaking other traffic rules. Traffic road signs in the city are virtually non-existent and that has resulted in many accidents, congestion and infringements, which are intolerable to law-abiding citizens, road-users and motorists.
In some cases, vehicles are making dangerous U-turns in places where they are not supposed to be turning and vehicles are being parked at unauthorised locations or even on the pavements in public venues, which is wrong.
There has been no police presence at traffic lights locations and there are no police cameras to detect them.
As far as these cowboys are concerned, they own the city roads and nobody can stop them and their dangerous habits.
This time, the campaign by police to have NCD traffic officers at traffic lights in the city should be supported so it becomes regular until the roads/streets are safer when drivers start to observe all traffic rules while using these public roads.
Met Supt Perou N’dranou said police noted that drivers’ behaviours were improving at traffic lights.
NCD police is now embarking on a ‘traffic violations interventions’ campaign with emphasis on various traffic rules that have been blatantly ignored by many road users leading to deaths and damage to properties.
“We hope that drivers continue to improve themselves instead of just relying on police presence at these streets and the traffic lights to observe the traffic rules,” N’dranou said.
Since the campaign was launched in the capital city two weeks ago, 133 vehicles were stopped and checked.
According to incidents reported, traffic light violations totalled 75 infringements (TIN), 18 unregistered vehicles, four overloading with one load protruding 1.5 metres.
For PMVs found on unauthorised routes, police issued five TINs and various other offences including unlicensed drivers, unlicensed PMVs or taxis, driving without due care. Seventeen unauthorised number plates were also reported.
Since January, 479 traffic accidents were reported in Port Moresby, with 325 investigations completed and 172 pending.
From the reported accidents, 251 people were arrested for various offences.
The above statistics indicate that drivers in NCD are becoming reckless and dangerous to other road users which has prompted traffic officers to re-educate them on their responsibilities and enforce the appropriate laws in regards to proper and safe ways to use the public road/streets.
The onus is on vehicle owners, drivers and pedestrians to behave responsibly and to observe traffic rules.
Laws are there however, they are only as good as the people obeying and those who are supposed to enforce it.