Chief Superintendent Alexander Kwaku Obeng, Director of Education, Research, and Training at the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), has urged vehicle owners to regularly maintain their vehicles as a key measure to reduce road crashes.

Chief Supt. Obeng stated that vehicle maintenance is in line with road traffic regulations. He emphasized the importance of functioning lighting systems and proper notices on vehicles—especially trucks and other long vehicles—in the fight against road carnage.

He made these remarks while addressing transit truck drivers and other stakeholders at a one-day sensitisation workshop organised by the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA) on various road regulations, including those covering axle loading and the transportation of hazardous goods.

He also urged vehicle owners to entrust their vehicles only to licensed and trained drivers to ensure they are being used appropriately on the roads. This, he said, would help save lives and property and contribute to building their businesses.

Chief Supt. Obeng expressed concern that, between January and April this year, over 4,700 road crashes had been recorded in the country. These involved over 8,000 vehicles, resulting in more than 5,000 injuries and over 1,000 deaths.

He noted that 1,365 of the crashes involved trucks, reflecting a worrying trend of preventable accidents, which not only cost lives but also negatively affect truck owners and their drivers.

He urged drivers to consider the broader impact of such preventable crashes on lives, property, goods, and the economy: “You can imagine the economic impact, along with the loss of lives, injuries, damage to property, loss of goods, and the erosion of your capital.”

Chief Supt. Obeng identified some causes of the crashes as defective lights, worn tyres, lack of reflectors, driver-related issues, overloading, dangerous overtaking, and the abandonment of faulty vehicles in the middle of the road.

He further encouraged adherence to road traffic regulations, including the need for drivers to rest after every four hours of driving to prevent fatigue.

Finally, he cautioned that drivers and the public should not always be pleased in the absence of police on the roads, as their presence helps check indiscipline and can reduce the rising number of road crashes.