GSB, RSL acquires vehicle testing equipment

Tema, May 03, GNA -- The Ghana Standard Board (GSB) and Road Safety Limited (RSL) on Thursday launched a one billion cedi vehicle testing equipment in Tema to ensure vehicle road worthiness and decrease the accident rate in the country.

The equipment includes Roller Brake Testing machine, Exhaust Gas Analyzer, Diagnostic Unit and Light Beam Checker.

In a welcoming address at the launching, Mr Michael Dedey, General Manager of the RSL said for a thorough check of vehicles, the Brake Testing machine is used to check the brake effectiveness, while the Exhaust Gas Analyzer measures the acceptability of gas being giving out by the vehicle.

He said Diagnostic Unit is used in detecting electronic faults on the vehicle while the Light Beam Checker is used to control the lights to an acceptable angle.

Mr Dedey noted that the Brake Tester and Exhaust Gas Analyzer could provide a scientific basis for workshops and vehicle owners in evaluating the quality of work done.

"The facility provides an opportunity for some quick and scientific evaluation of conditions of vehicles before sale or purchase" he indicated, adding that, it would also provide an opportunity for vehicle owners to seek lower insurance premiums if their vehicles are subjected to such critical inspections and tests regularly. The General Manager indicated that the facility would not only reduce road accidents but also improve fleet management and reduce disputes based on unscientific evidence during accident investigations. Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and Presidential Special Initiatives said the installation of the equipment, which was completed on January 23, 2007 was in line with the government's strategic objectives for road safety which aimed at a concrete sustainable accident reduction by the year 2010.

He said in 1999, the country obtained a credit facility from the International Development Agency (IDA) to support the Private Enterprises and Privatisation Technical Assistance (PEPTA) project which was initiated at the GSB adding that, one of the outputs of the project was upgrading GSB's laboratories.

The Deputy Minister further stated that, one of the areas identified to build capacity at GSB was to equip it with a vehicle testing equipment, which was made possible in collaboration with the RSL and support of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA). He urged the GSB, RSL, National Road Safety Commission (NRSC), DVLA, Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) and other stakeholders to intensify the marketing and promotion of the testing services. Mr Adu Darkwa, Executive Director of the GSB handing over a document; 'Motor Vehicle: Periodic Inspection and Test GS 806: 2007' to the RSL stated that, it contains the requirements that vehicles plying the roads must be inspected to ensure its conformity with regulations governing safety and emissions.

He stated that, the vehicle inspection was to check that the vehicle was properly designed to carry out the functions that it has been assigned, while it also seek to identify potential weakness or faults which make vehicles unsafe to ply the road. Mr Darkwa indicated that, vehicle inspection was a pro-active step toward accident prevention in Ghana adding that, the submission of the document would improve vehicular safety. 03 May 06