Redesign Intersection to prevent accidents

Ho, June 1, GNA - Mr Elvis Gbesemete, the Volta Regional Coordinator of the Road Safety Commission, has called for the reengineering and construction of the intersection that diverts heavy trucks from the highw ay to the Ho Town. He said the suggested designs should make it impossible for vehicles

weighing more than tonnes to drive to town unless they use the diversion through the Ring road at Sokode-Lokoe. Mr Gbesemete was speaking to the Ghana News Agency at the scene of a

bizarre accident, on Monday night, when an articulated truck, fully loade d with plywood, from Hohoe crashed into the street barricades at the Civic Centre traffic Lights, with its trailer tipping off and the contents blocking the street for hours. There were no casualties. He said the road sign directing big trucks off the sharp gradient straight road to the centre of the municipality was not legible and reflective enough. Mr Gbesemete suggested that the road signs leading to that intersect ion should stretch on for a while before the vehicles reach the spot to turn off. Mr Francis Kusi, driver of the truck with registration number AS5217 P, who claimed he did not see the road sign for diversion, said his brakes failed him as the vehicle descended the sharp gradient. He claimed it was his first time travelling that route to Nigeria an d that he was misled by a colleague driver. Mr Fred Lumor, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in charge of

Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) in the Region, said the driver's excuse of ignorance and brake failure was not tenable. He said the Police suspected that the load was over the recommended 35 tonnage and that the Police was carrying out investigations to take the appropriate action.