BISMARK BOAKYE
REGIONAL HEAD, NATIONAL ROAD
SAFETY COMMISSION.
Most of the accidents on our roads can be attributed to complete disregard for road safety regulations. According to the law, every vehicle has a limit in terms of the load that it is required to carry as well as the speed. On highways vehicles are to travel at 80km per hour and 50km per hour when approaching a settlement, especially populated ones.
Unfortunately, drivers go beyond the permitted speed limits and even refuse to take rest in between distances. But man cannot cheat nature and, when the body is weak, one is bound to lose concentration and then sleep would take over and this inevitably results in accidents.
What many drivers forget, especially those who drive heavy-duty vehicles is that when they overload their vehicles more fuel is consumed in the process. Indeed, some of the big vehicles are the cause of damage to our roads due to the excess weight that they carry. It is therefore important that the police are put on patrol to check vehicles that overload.
I will advocate improved ways of testing for drivers. I think that the DVLA should re-test drivers before they are employed. The National Road Safety Commission is doing everything possible to ensure that the message of safety on our roads is understood by drivers, but, I must say that many drivers have an attitude problem that need to be checked if the nation is to make a headway with safety on our roads.
KWAME INSAIDOO ,
BROADCAST
JOURNALIST.
I think there should be some form of mechanism that would ensure that those through whose negligence people die from road accidents have the names or the number of the dead printed on their licences so that when they go looking for a new job the new employer will know of his or her record.
It is unimagniable to lose 21 people on a single day through vehicular accident. It is unfortunate to lose a section of the country’s human resource this way.
I think that the authorities concerned would have to device a means of constructing separate driving routes for trucks and haulage vehicles. This way, I believe our roads would be made safer for everyone. Accidents that happen, particularly on the Accra-Cape Coast-Takoradi road are as a result of complete disregard for safety regulations including the required permissible speeds for vehicles travelling on that road. To make matters worse the haulage, articulated and tipper trucks also carry weight far in excess of that demanded of them.
The presence of police patrols especially on the Accra-Takoradi route, is something that must be seriously considered. In fact drivers who ply the Accra-Kumasi and Accra-Takoradi roads are noted for speeding in their attempt to have as many return trips as possible. And this has been a major contributor to road accidents in the country.
I would like to appeal to the Inspector General of Police as a matter of urgency to restore the services of the police patrol on our roads, and also to resource the police adequately so that they can perform effectively.
REV. ODURO TWUM,
DVLA REGIONAL BOSS
Nobody in this world has the right to take the life of his or her fellow human being, be it through road accident or any other means. Indeed, it should not be said of us as motorists into whose hands the lives of passengers have been entrusted that we are the cause of loss of lives.
There are laws in this country to guide road usage and driving. Among other regulations, drivers are required to take enough rest after covering certain distances to ensure that they are fit enough for the rest of the journey.
That aside, some roads have lots of curves and the manner some people overload and drive their vehicles is not the best. Many of the buses, trucks and vans were not manufactured to carry passengers or goods. However, after registering the vehicles their owners clandestinely convert them.
When vehicles carry beyond the permissible tonnage it becomes difficult in the event of an emergency to manouvre to safety. Because of the weight of the load, it takes a long time for the vehicle to stabilise and to come to a stop, a situation which in most cases results in chaos as happened in the accident at Essoko-Assaman between the STC bus and the haulage truck.
Furthermore, most haulage truck drivers are paid on a commision basis, depending on the number of trips they make in a day. As such they defy the demands of the body which is constantly calling for rest and overwork themselves, which has a telling effect on them.
It is important that we ensure that there is respect for other road users and also respect regulations and drive at speeds which would enable us to prevent dangerous situations.
DELA DZANSI
SEKONDI
Drivers should be given education to know the socio-economic effects of accidents on the country. In fact, it is important that before any driver sets off, his or her vehicle is thoroughly checked and they are themselves fit to embark on the journey.
A good driver is the one who takes cognisance of road signs, rules and regulations and makes sure that he arrives at his or her destination in one piece. It is important that drivers do not travel beyond permissible speed limits since in my estimation that is one of the major contributors to road accidents.
Cmpanies that employ drivers should make it a point to give their staff regular training since new road designs and signs are being introduced into the system. It is important that drivers do not become tired when driving. Those who travel long distances should stop occasionally and stretch their limbs and make sure they rest well before continuing the journey.
RHODALINDA AMOAH,
RESIDENT OF
TAKORADI
I have come to the realisation that no matter how careful one is on the road, there are bound to be mistakes that others would commit to put you in danger.
I wonder why trucks are still allowed to be parked on the shoulders of the road in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis. In fact, this phenomenon is very rife during the cocoa season and the activity sometimes result in serious accidents.
To me road accidents can be attributed to speeding and heavy-duty vehicles are not exempted from this unhelpful behaviour. At high speed it is difficult for vehicles of all types to manouvre to safety in case of emergency. We must thank God that we are still alive
I think that to reduce the number of accidents attributed to the carelessness or negligence on the part of drivers of heavy duty vehicles, a separate road be constructed for them. As long as I can remember, many of the accidents on the Accra-Takoradi road are as a result of mistakes commited by drivers of heavy duty vehicles.
It is unfortunate for the country to be losing her human resource this way. The authorities concerned in ensuring that the right thing is done on our roads should endeavour to be stringent with the application of the rules and regulations governing road usage in this country.
EKOW SHELDERS,
SUPER MORNING SHOW HOST,
MELODY 91.1 FM, TAKORADI
I wonder if we have gradually come to accept that death through accidents—a most painful thing— is a norm in society. One of the biggest things a country could boast of is its human resource that is required to propel its growth.
There is no doubt that the oil discovery would bring countless corporate bodies to the Western Region. This means there would be an increase in passenger traffic from Accra to the region. It is therefore important that a way is found to ensure that road users go by rules and regulations of road usage in the country.
The Accra-Kumasi road is one other expressway that calls for urgent attention insofar as speed, tonnage and general road usage is concerned. If possble the authorities should regulate the times that heavy-duty vehicles may use our roads to avoid some of the recent carnage we have witnessed through road accidents.
Heavy-duty vehicle owners as well companies that own such vehicles must impress it on their drivers to take rest in between their journeys so that they can adequately rest and be fit for the remainder of their voyage. Where possible owners must put two drivers in a vehicle so that one could take over from the other midway through the journey.
ADJOA KPESENU,
TAKORADI
It is unacceptable that in this day and age, large numbers of people should be dying through avoidable road accidents. The life of every single individual in this country is important and as such every effort must be made to preserve life.
I have a problem with the way trucks are parked on the shoulders of roads in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis and the speed at which they travel. I think it does not augur well for safety on our roads at all.
It is about time we found a solution to the menace of accidents on our roads. Though accident are bound to happen, the frequency at which they occur is becoming frightening and the nation needs to sit up
Now that attention is focused on the Western Region because of the oil find, it means that traffic might increase and if that happens drivers have to be cautioned to respect speed limits on certain roads. I would like to appeal to the National Road Safety Commission and the Ghana Police Service to do more to put a stop to the carnage on our roads.
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