Tragedy highlights danger on roads

 THE tragic death of a man on one of Port Moresby’s busiest roads early yesterday morning highlights the imminent dangers that thousands of pedestrians face in the nation’s capital every day.

Ephraim Mujrey, a long-time chain operator with RH Logging Company, died instantly when he was hit by a high-speeding vehicle on the Hubert Murray Highway at 4 Mile in Boroko, Port Moresby. 

He was on his way to work and was accompanied by his eldest son who watched helplessly as his father was run over by the bus. 

The horrific death will haunt the son for the rest of his life while the family 

will face the hardships of living without their regular breadwinner.

While the current road deaths toll may be low, there will come a time when pedestrians will be struck down by vehicles on a daily basis.

Do the relevant authorities want to wait for that to happen or will they act now to make our thoroughfares safer.

It can be safely stated that road-safety is almost non-existent in Port Moresby. Aside from the weekly road checks by officers of the government-owned Motor Vehicles Insurance Ltd (MVIL), little or no attention is paid to reckless drivers who break every rule in the traffic book. 

These drivers deliberately ignore traffic rules and driving over the speed limit, fail to stop at pedestrian crossings and run the red lights. 

Many of them drive under the influence of liquor 

and pose great danger to pedestrians and other motorists.

Last week, we reported a police officer urging pedestrians to follow road rules and cross roads at the assigned crossings to avoid accidents.

According to NCD traffic officer Constable John Nare, the number of road accidents had increased from 260 to 322 according to statistics compiled between January and April this year and the showed that most victims were pedestrians. 

“We have a growing population and increasing number of vehicles so pedestrians must follow traffic rules and cross roads when it’s clear,” he said.

Nari added that tougher penalties must be imposed on traffic offenders to deter them from committing the same or similar offences. 

“We are doing our best but the penalty must be tougher for the offenders.”

Another officer in Lae Alois Gabuol wants parents to educate their children road safety, especially crossing roads. 

“Use school crossings at all times but never walk over the crossing immediately,” Gabuol said. 

“Stand at the edge of the crossing to alert the oncoming vehicle. The driver must stop before you cross the road.”

With the influx of vehicles into the NCD over the past few years, traffic jams have become a way of life for motorists with long queues at traffic light intersections that can test a driver’s patience and understanding.

A driver who runs the red light for the first time without incident can count himself or herself lucky. 

He or she may not be so lucky the second time around.

Those drivers who constantly run the red lights because they believe nothing can stop them will sooner or later face the reality of a nasty accident. 

They can count themselves lucky if they survive.

These are the culprits that must be stopped before 

they injure or kill themselves and other innocent road users.

As well, the introduction of alcohol breath-testing for drivers must not be further delayed. 

The nation’s capital is full of drunken drivers who also think they are the kings of the road when they are intoxicated. 

They too must be halted in their tracks as they are a menace to our society.

Road safety and the adherence of traffic laws 

must become a top priority for the police and other 

relevant government agencies.

It is imperative that 

spot cameras are installed with police presence at traffic light intersections to detect and apprehend offenders.

The presence of traffic police patrolling the roads and streets is a comforting sight for law-abiding motorists and pedestrians.

It is a matter of life and death that these measures are implemented immediately.