207, LT, mini-buses cause 35% accident fatalities

Tema, Sept. 23, GNA - Thirty-five per cent of all accident fatalities in the country are caused by 207, LT and min-buse drivers, Alhaji Mustapha Garibah, Co-ordinator of the National Road Safety Commission has disclosed.

Most of the drivers of those vehicles, he noted, did not attend any driving schools and have less knowledge about traffic regulations and even how to manage emergency traffic situations.

He was speaking at a forum organised by the Regional Road Safety Commission on road-safety regulations for executives of transport unions within Tema, Ashaiman and Newtown to help minimise the occurrence of road accidents in the municipality.

He reminded them that the profession goes with a greater responsibility that is to save lives and advised them on the need to exercise high sense of discipline when driving on the roads. The National Co-ordinator disclosed that the Commission has reports on some drivers and car owners who elongate the axle of their vehicles to take about 28 passengers instead of the approved number of 23 passengers and said the Driver Vehicle and Licensing Authority (DVLA) has instituted an inspection team to check on that and to make sure the right thing is done before vehicles are registered.

The Regional Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), DSP Prosper Ayisi, announced that over 20 drivers have been arrested within the past two weeks for reckless driving, driving with expired licenses and driving vehicles above the approved weight, and would soon be put before court.

He explained that the exercise is not to frustrate or harass drivers and vehicle owners but an attempt to reduce road accidents and enforce road safety regulations, adding that "the Police will also impound rickety and defective vehicles and their owners made to repair them before releasing them.

The Regional Commander however asked the union executives to join in the road safety campaign by educating its members on the need to observe traffic regulations to reduce accidents.

"It is necessary to spend part of your welfare fund for those educate your members than spending it on expensive funerals," he stressed.