MMT declares war on ‘alcohol drivers’

Management of Metro Mass Transport Limited (MMTL) has warned local drivers to avoid drunk-driving in order to prevent needless road traffic crashes in the country.

The state transport company has consequently vowed that any driver or conductor of the MMT found to have engaged in drink or dangerous driving would not be spared so that it will serves as a deterrent to others.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Today in Accra yesterday, Administrative Manager of MMT, Stephen Yeboah further warned drivers not to drive whilst under the influence of alcohol or drug because it could affect their driving ability and cause accidents.

Mr.Yeboah issued the warning while he was briefing Today on the recent move by the MMT to embark on alcohol testing exercise for its drivers and conductors plying Accra, Kumasi to some major destinations in the country.

He told Today that although over 400 bus drivers and 200 conductors of the company who were tested during the exercise in Accra and Kumasi were alcohol free, the drivers of MMT must refrain from drinking when they are behind the steering wheel.

The exercise, according to him, was aimed at reducing road accidents involving the MMT buses and assured his outfit’s commitment to conduct the alcohol testing exercise throughout the year in all the depots of MMT.

“We are assuring the general public that we are going to do the alcohol testing on our bus drivers and conductors every day before and after their journeys. We would also continue to conduct random tests on all our routes every day until we have reason to believe that no driver or conductor of the company engages in drink-driving,” Mr.Yeboah further assured.

According to him, many people have met their untimely death as a result of road accidents involving public transport; not because of bad roads but as a result of the poor judgement by drivers who were drunk.

“Drink-driving is one of the major causes of accidents on our roads, but in spite of the consistent education of drivers to make them refrain from drinking when they are behind the steering wheel, some of them continue to take in alcohol before or during a journey”, he said.

He indicated that even though there were strict rules on how much alcohol one could drink when in the driving seat, he preferred drivers do not take in alcohol at all while driving.

He called on passengers to speak up against recalcitrant drivers who flout basic traffic laws.

Mr. Stephen urged managers of lorry stations to conduct diligent maintenance checks on the vehicles before departure.

He encouraged drivers to have enough rest before embarking on journeys, stressing fatigue and drunk driving, wrongful overtaking, over speeding and disregard for road traffic regulation are some of the major causes of road crashes.

He also urged transport owners to ensure that their vehicles are regularly maintained.

He advised all road users, especially pedestrians, to use zebra crossings at all times, and urged drivers to stop when pedestrians are seen at the zebra
crossings.

He hinted that his outfit will soon collaborate with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) to embark on massive public education to help reduce accidents on the road.

Mr. Stephen appealed to drivers to be careful on the roads, and avoid unnecessary speeding, overtaking and overloading.