Accra, June 12, GNA - Dr. Kwabena Donkor, Deputy Minister of Energy, on Friday underscored the resolve of government to step up monitoring of Bulk Road Vehicles (BRVs) used in the transportation of petroleum products for to adherence to safety and environmental standards to minimise adverse impact.

He said it was important that transportation of petroleum products was done within the confines of the law so that life and property of other road users were not endangered. Dr. Donkor was speaking at a seminar organised by the Association of Oil Marketing Companies of Ghana for its members on the theme: "Road Transportation of Petroleum Products: Safety and Security Challenges Way Forward."

The seminar was meant to educate members on good road practices to prevent motor accidents.

Dr. Donkor asked the association to help reduce the high number of BRVs currently involved in the transportation of petroleum products. He said while stakeholders continued to explore different modes of transportation of petroleum products, efforts should be geared towards making road transportation of such products efficient and reliable. Mrs. Mary Obiri-Yeboah, Director of Planning and Programmes of the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC), blamed the cause of most accidents on the inability of drivers to observe traffic regulations. She said the drivers in their haste to reach their destinations on time overtook wrongly, drove under the influence of alcohol and carried excess loads thereby contributing to high road fatalities. Other problems were wrong parking by some drivers that obstructed traffic flow, driving and parking on the shoulders of the road, high speed and lack of knowledge of traffic control devices, Mrs Obiri-Yeboah said.

It is estimated that road traffic crashes cost the nation 1.6 per cent of the gross domestic product, which translates to US$165 million. Mr. Rudolph Beckley, Manager of Research, Statistics and Information Technology of the NRSC, said items that transportation of solids, liquids and gases that cloud explode, flammable, toxic, infectious and radioactive or corrosive properties needed special transport requirements to eliminate or minimize the risk of injuring people or damaging property and the environment. He warned drivers not to accept to transport damaged packages, leaking containers, incompatible freight or hazardous goods which were improperly packed, marked or labelled or not in proper condition for transportation.