The National Road Safety Council Chief Executive Officer, Nelson Terema says that penalties must be raised for traffic offenders.
Currently offenders are fined between K3 and K50 for a range of offences while bail for serious offenders costs K400.
Mr. Terema says a new authority will be established to look into possible increases in penalties.
“A new legislation is being formed to regulate traffic offences. The governing body will be known asthe Road Traffic Authority. It will see big fines and penalties given to offenders,” said Terema.
Road accidents have increased around Lae City inthe last few months. One example was an accident that happened near Nadzab Airport onthe main highway was a truck pancaked a security vehicle killingthe driver dlied instantly.
Witnesses saidthe driver was allegedly drunk.
According to police statistics five to six accidents happen every month inthe Morobe Province. The road safety council said thatthe current fines are lenient and doesn’t deter traffic offenders.
A new system fromthe United Kingdom is also being developed to improver accident records.
Lae’s Metropolitan Superintendent said he was happy withthe assistance he was getting fromthe National Road Safety Council.
New laptops were donated tothe police to keep track records for the new system and police traffic officers will be trained to usethe system.
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