THE Motor Vehicles Insurance Limited (MVIL) has recorded a total of 265 reported accidents for 2021.
Forty percent of those accidents were recorded in the Highlands region with the highest being from Western Highlands Province with the record of 41.
Most of the accidents were caused by drunk drivers and inexperienced drivers.
Overloading of passengers and speeding were also some of the factors that contributed to the rise in the statistics.
“Careless driving such as speeding unnecessarily is one of the main factors resulting in accidents,” said the Managing Director of MVIL Michael Makap.
Most of the accidents involved Public Motor Vehicles (PMVs) and Toyota Land Cruisers, and some of the accidents involved uninsured and unregistered vehicles.
MVlL’s records shows that there were 20,775 uninsured and unregistered vehicles on the road in Papua New Guinea (PNG) in 2021.
Southern region had the highest number (60%) of uninsured and unregistered vehicles, followed by New Guinea Islands (16%), Momase (12%) and Highlands (12%).
Makap said the Highlands region had the lowest number of uninsured and unregistered vehicles yet the highest number in insurance claims.
He also stated that Mt Hagen had become the hot spot for accidents in the last quarter (January-March).
“Drivers are simply not following traffic rules. They ignore traffic rules and try to outsmart roadblocks. Some obtain licenses through improper conducts which is totally wrong,” Makap said.
“It is important to note that MVIL is not liable for claims from uninsured motor vehicles. Hence, vehicles have to be insured and registered so that passengers are covered during accidents,” he stressed.
Compensation payment awarded in respect of the death of any person had increased to KIO, OOO.OO irrespective of gender and age.
