By Quinton Alomp, EM TV News – Port Moresby
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has predicted that by 2030, the number of people who die from road accidents will be higher than the number of people who die from HIV and AIDS.
National Road Safety Council Deputy Director, Wilson Wariaka said at present, road accidents remain the ninth killer around the world, but is expected to be on the fifth position by 2030.
Mr Wariaka said the WHO prediction is serious because already road accidents are claiming lives and leaving others paralysed or seriously injured.
Over five million people around the world die every year in road accidents.
That figure includes the drivers, passengers and pedestrians.
An estimated 50 million people around the world sustain serious injuries, including amputated arms and legs.
Many of these accidents happened in developing countries, affecting mainly the productive age groups.
In PNG, accident data from police shows that between 300 to 500 men and women die from road accidents in a year.
Mr Wariaka said the national Government is spending over K2 million every year to compensate victims of road accidents through insurance.
Mr Wariaka told students, parents and drivers during the road safety campaign in Porgera town last Thursday that Highlands region records the highest road accidents data so far.
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