Unroadworthy vehicles, carelessness causing deaths

UNROADWORTHY vehicles and careless driving claim many lives every year, Eastern Highlands police commander Supt David Seine Jnr says.
“Negligence and failures of Public Motor Vehicle (PMV) owners and drivers to service their vehicles regularly and careless driving are responsible for deaths of many people in road accidents,” he said.
“When people die in road accidents, no one cares to check mechanical faults or road worthiness of vehicles but accuses the driver straight away.”
Seine also blamed accidents on drivers for undue care that also claimed lives.
Seine said alcohol was also a major killer on roads.
He said apart from roadworthy vehicles and careless driving, drink drive was the major contributor.
“Eastern Highlands police has already gone out for the festive period special operation and they will be on full alert on drunk drivers,” he said.
Seine’s cautions and warnings came yesterday after a fatal accident along the Ungai road where three teachers and three others, who were going into Goroka to shop for Yabiufa Primary School end-of-the-year closing, died. He said as the PMV bus was running downhill, the brake pads fell off and the bus ran off the cliff killing six passengers and injuring seven others last week.
“I condemn the owner and driver of the PMV bus that encountered brake problems and ran over the Ungai Mountain road, three teachers were killed and injured seven others. Majority of them were teachers from Yabiufa Primary School on official duty. If the vehicle was serviced and maintained, these innocent lives wouldn’t be lost.”