Traffic office introduces new laws in province

THE Kokopo traffic office has come out clear on the new traffic laws that have recently created confusion and inconvenience to the public in East New Britain (ENB).
Officer-in-charge of ENB police traffic unit in Kokopo Chief Sgt Albert Mapo said in June, 2018, the Road Traffic Authority Act came into effect.
He said the old act which they had been enforcing was the Motor Vehicle Act which was not abolished.
Mapo said they executed the new act during the weeks leading up to the festive season.
Mapo apologised to the public on behalf of the traffic office for not carrying out awareness before implementing the act.
He said his traffic officers had not been adequately trained so they could better inform the public, especially drivers and public motor vehicle operators, on the right information.
He said according to the new act, there were changes made to drivers licences, and police personnel did not fully understand them leading to confusion at checkpoints.
Mapo advised drivers in the province to use their current driving licences and changes would be made when they went in to renew them.
“The management has started airing public notice programmes last week during the afternoon drive programme, which will run every Friday afternoon, on the local radio station NBC ENB, and we will also carry out awareness about the newly introduced traffic laws.”