Unqualified drivers cause accidents

Source: 

The National - Tuesday 04th, October, 2011

AS recent letters indicate, many people believe road accidents are caused by irresponsible consumption of alcohol.
However, alcohol is not the only cause.
Poor or unqualified drivers are also a major cause of the many accidents we read in our dailies.
In Port Moresby, for example, we often encoun­ter drivers who hog the outer lane which is for overta­king or those driving at a faster speed.
They drive along at snail’s pace, unconcerned they are holding back others­.
In some countries, such drivers can be charged with a traffic offence, but not in PNG.
Then there are those who cut across lanes as and when they wish, without putting on the signal lights.
These drivers may not value their lives, but others do.
At the traffic lights near Boroko Motors, many dri­vers cut in from the inner lane to get into Wards Road.
At the same time, many do not obey traffic lights, treating them like a junction.
PMV drivers always think they have right of way, bullying their way through.
It is because they do not own the PMVs and any damage caused will not come out of their pockets.
Perhaps it is because of their attitude.
Taxi drivers are also just as guilty of poor driving habits, and there are simply too many taxis in the NCD.
The fault, I believe, lies with the authority which issues driving licences and, to some extent, private driving instructors.
When a person gets be­hind the wheel, he assumes responsibility for his well-being as well as others.
How many realise this?
A car is a great mode of transport but it can also be turned into a killing machine in the hands of someone not properly trained to drive.
Producing good and responsible drivers begins with the driving instructor whose objective should not be just to earn some money.
He also has a responsibility to his student, the community and his profession.
The authority must en­sure all requirements are met before issuing driving licence.
There should not be any compromise.
Unfortunately, we all know that there is corruption and wantokism at play.
Here, we need both the authority and law en­for­cers to nab the culprits.
So while we consider banning alcohol to make our roads safer, we must also review the way dri­ving licences are issued and how police monitor road-users.

David
Port Moresby