B&FT Editorial: When will the road carnage stop!

It is sad to always hear of fatal road accidents that keep claiming the lives of innocent humans in the country. Just this Tuesday, January 14, 2020, news broke about a gory accident on the Cape Coast- Takoradi highway that claimed the precious lives of 34 people.

The most disturbing part of the story is that this and other deadly accidents could easily have been avoided if citizens became responsible in their use of roads, and government also becomes responsible in delivering the needed road infrastructure.

Why do we say this? Most drivers on our roads are actually not qualified and have no education in driving. The system is so loose that driving licenses can be acquired with no stress even though it is required that every driver passes through a driving school before being given a license.

In fact there are even those who have been driving for years without drivers licenses-unthinkable, but yes, but that is the reality. If the system could enforce the law, whereby drivers no longer do wrongful overtaking, respect speed limits, understand road signs and marking; and obey traffic laws, the road accidents would stop.

Also if government on its part delivers the needed road infrastructure so that all roads are well-lit at night, roads are pot-hole free, roads are brightly marked and to a large extent, all long-travel distance highways are dualised, frequent road accidents would significantly reduce.

When accidents claim the precious lives of people and the president or some delegation from the government visits the bereaved families, or posts messages on social media comforting them, it is nowhere new the solution we need. There should be holistic approaches to the issue and bold decisions must be made and enforced, even if they make government unpopular. We cannot continue to sit aloof and watch things happen this way.

The B&FT offers its condolences to the bereaved families and friends of the deceased persons; and also with the injured speedy recovery. Our thoughts are with all of them.