The Road Traffic Authority (RTA) is taking steps to increase the safety of the public on the roads by cracking down on unregistered vehicles and those fraudulently operating as public transport vehicles, by taking them off the roads.
RTA acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. John Avira said this while announcing this week the impounding of two buses in the National Capital District (NCD) and many more in Lae city.
“These include buses who do not have their route numbers painted on their vehicle bodies permanently and switch route numbers at will to transport passengers in other routes,” said Mr. Avira, who is also a mandated Superintendent – Motor Traffic by RTA legislation.
“The sweeping net will also include vehicles painted in taxi colours but are not registered, and do not carry appropriate yellow T registration plates in both the front and the back of their cars.”
Mr. Avira stated this today following reports from the public sighting and reporting of several unlicensed buses' crew in the National Capital District putting up temporary route numbers and picking up passengers and vehicles with taxi colours but without yellow T license plates.
His comments also follow the impounding of defective buses operating as PMVs in Lae with suspicious registration and safety stickers.
Meanwhile, RTA Lae-based Traffic Enforcement Officers are investigating how the impounded vehicles’ owners were able to obtain valid safety stickers, valid Compulsory Third Party stickers from Motor Vehicle Insurance Limited and valid registration stickers from traffic registry.
Mr. Avira said that they are intensifying operations on all illegal and unsafe passenger transport services.
"The law is clear. Only passenger endorsed/permitted vehicles, driven by appropriated licensed drivers, are allowed to ferry the public; and PMV buses are to operate in the specifically authorized and allocated routes," said Mr. Avira.
"The rationale for this law is so that appropriately licensed and road worthy vehicles - and appropriately licensed drivers - ferry the public with safety.
"Additionally, it is unfair for unlicensed passenger PMV and taxi services to steal business of those appropriately licensed and registered to provide that service.
“Offending drivers will be issued Traffic Infringement Notices, fined and the vehicles impounded. The drivers and owners will also be referred to police for arrest and prosecution.
Mr. Avira warned the public to avoid hitching rides on unlicensed passenger vehicles as their safety cannot be guaranteed and they are breaking the law.
"RTA is committed to ensuring that the travelling public are safe. That begins with ensuring public transport vehicles are road worthy through passenger transport licensing - and drivers are appropriately licensed to ferry passengers safely.
"Safety is everybody's responsibility. So, passengers too need to be choosy on their rides,” said Mr. Avira.
