DVLA DESCENDS ON DRIVING SCHOOLS (PAGE 29)

THE Western Regional Office of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Division (DVLA) is preparing to clamp down on all driving schools operating in the Sekondi/Takoradi metropolis which have not regularised their operations.
According to the officials, none of the schools have registered with the DVLA as required by law.
The Regional Manager, Reverend Oduro Twum, said even the manner in which motorists drive in the metropolis was evident that everything was wrong with the system.
He said under normal circumstances, driving schools were supposed to provide the perfect platform for new learners to be abreast of all regulations to avert the chaos on the roads but rather the opposite prevailed.
“We don’t want to be harsh on the schools, therefore, we invite them and caution them to regularise their operation and ensure that the right things are done,” he said.
Driving schools play very important roles in the education of the public on what pertains on the roads. You will be driving in the metropolis especially at roundabouts, and a vehicle outside the roundabout will enter it with speed and expect that the one in the roundabout stopped for him or her,” he said.
That aside, he said, on the dual carriage roads “it is interesting to see both commercial and private vehicles driving slowly in the speed lane and one is sometimes forced to overtake them in the wrong lane.”
The regional DVLA boss said sometimes owners of the driving schools came to the authority’s offices to ask for learners which under normal circumstances, was not proper.
A proper driving school should have vehicles with dual pedal system, at least two trained instructors, spacious classroom for more than 30 learners, registered with DVLA, enough learning materials, engine parts and their identifiable location,” he said.
“We insist that they should register with us so that we can visit them from time to time and bring them to order when they are going wrong and also to have access to them when we have training programmes for them.”
He, therefore, used the opportunity to advise the public to patronise the services of certified driving schools to ensure that they did not only get their money’s worth but also became responsible and defensive drivers.