Police have recorded an alarming number of road accidents with over 30 lives being lost in Mt Hagen, Western Highlands Province for this year alone.
Over 20 road accidents have been recorded since January this year and most of these incidences took place along the new four lane road from Kagamuga to Keltiga.
Traffic police officer Simon Kik said the incidences involved mostly the Public Motor Vehicles (PMVs) and it is a very serious issue because it involves the many lives of the travelling public.
“We have been doing awareness and have advised drivers to be more careful on the roads and feel the sense of responsibility they have when they have lives on board,” Mr Kik said.
“The PMV drivers here seem to be excited in speeding and overtaking vehicles on the roads and the result is seen in the statistics.”
He said most of the accidents are not the case of drink driving but rather of plain ignorance and carelessness of road rules by the drivers.