First Crash Data Base for a better road management ….and the pothholes...

FOR the first time ever in Vanuatu there has been a Crash Data Base workshop for the  police and its stakeholders to sit together to discuss about a 'crash data base manual system' and how to improve the road management in Vanuatu.

The police media office confirmed that it is the first workshop of its kind organised in Vanuatu bringing together members of the police traffic unit and other stakeholders including the Public Works, Health, the Vila Municipality and the Vanuatu Project Management.

The media officer said that the main issue of the workshop, held recently at the Police VANSEC House, was road safety and maintenance.

The same report added that it is in the government of Vanuatu's interest to ensure that roads in Vanuatu are safe and maintained for the safety of drivers. “In future, participants of the workshop should be able to create a crash data base system in place to be able to record single road accidents and to be able to improve their respective road management systems,” the report said.

Participants representing the Public Works Unit confirmed that the workshop will enable all the stakeholders to be able to documentation their data.

The facilitator of the workshop was Dr John Fletcher, from the Transport Research Laboration (TRL), an English company which have been in the road safety research for 16 years.

It is common knowledge that several road accidents that occurred, especially in Vila and Luganville in Santo, were caused due to the small capacity or volume of the road – foothpaths are insufficient, especially for Vila roads that are becoming smaller, due to the high number of vehicles that almost reached 13 thousand in number plate.

The Independent receives reports from several drivers of public transport, that unrepaired roads in Vila could one day become a major factor in road accidents. They say these roads have never been properly repaired for many years, and it could cause an accident especially when drivers wanted to avoid major potholes, but roads are too small for busy traffic days, especially in areas such as Fresh Water, Anabrou, Ohlen, and not the least, Malapoa Estate.

“Malapoa Estate is a major victim to unrepaired roads, as drivers of public transport, especially from service buses, have to refuse servicing customers to Malapoa Estate,” said an expatriate resident from the area who has private car. “It is now rare to see service buses servicing ni-Vanuatu residing at Malapoa Estate – it's not their fault, but people from the authorities are not doing their job properly.”

At the front of the Municipality Stage at the Sea Front, members of the Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF) band had their boots drowning and splashing muddy water when they marched through the Sea Front road during the Port Vila Day event on Tuesday.

The worst place is the Manples Road, where the Vanuatu Stick company is situated. How many times now has that particular road been repaired, but that doesn't change the situation. During each rainy period, the road will be full with muddy water, forcing traffic to use the upper road going to Pakaroa Presbyterian church. For a few occasions in the past, the road has had to close for the safety of traffic.

The second worst area in the capital city of Port Vila is Melcoffee road.

While this will be a long term project to look into, owners and drivers of vehicles in Vila have also raised their concerns and questioned authorities from the Port Vila Municipality over the recent increase rate announced through the media concerning public and private vehicle's permit.

In a public information issued a week ago, commissioner of the Port Vila Municipality, Olga Tari has issued a general direction that as from November 18, 2011, all the permits for public vehicles and hire vehicles are increased by 20 per cent from VT 14,878 to VT 16,878.

“That all public vehicle charges, including new permits, transfer permits, renewal permits and duplicatre permits are now charged for VT 16,878, across the board,” he said.

Commissioner Tari said that in exercise of the powers conferred to her by instrument of appointment Order No.162 of 2011, issued under the Municipalities Act (CAP 126), she, Olga Tari made these general directions. Tari was appointed five months ago, by the minister of Internal Affairs, Georges Wells, to oversee operations of the Vila municipality, after he suspended the whole Vila Municipal council. Their suspension will be in force until October, 2013.