May Obiri-Yeboah
GOVERNMENT HAS through the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) called for public support in the implementation of some critical road safety interventions across the country.
Executive Director of NRSC, May Obiri-Yeboah, made the call on Sunday, March 24, while addressing journalists at the Information Ministry in Accra.
Her address was necessitated by the two accidents that occurred in Kintampo and Ekumfi on Friday, March 22, 2019.
The two accidents in the Central and Bono East regions reportedly left over 60 persons dead and several others injured.
Madam Obiri-Yeboah complained that
“in recent times, we have been at the receiving end of some resistance for the introduction of one road safety measure or the other.”
According to her, “the Commission intends to lead a conversation on the implementation of the Regulation on Speed limiters, which requires that all commercial vehicles must be fitted with speed limiters to help manage speeds as a major contributory factor to road traffic crashes.”
Madam Obiri-Yeboah stressed that “road safety is a way of life and a collective responsibility. The Transport operators, GPRTU, PROTOA, VIP, VVIP etc have a huge responsibility to ensure that their drivers are well educated and trained periodically. They must ensure at all times that their vehicles are roadworthy. The Police must intensify their enforcement programme and passengers must speak out against conducts that put the lives in danger.”
She stated “road users must remember that the use of the road require knowledge and responsibility. All road users must demonstrate discipline at all times whilst in traffic as drivers, riders, pedestrians, passengers, etc.”
She lamented that “road traffic crashes have seen an upsurge of road deaths and injuries from the beginning of this year.”
The Executive Director said “available statistics from the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service indicates that from January to end of February 2019, a total of 411 persons were killed and 2,048 were injured through road traffic crashes in Ghana.”
She recalled that in February 2018 after series of occurrences of road traffic crashes, President Akuffo Addo, expressed his concern about the carnage and tasked the Ministers of Interior, Transport and Roads and Highways to come up with a working solution to address the menace.
She explained that the Committee submitted its report to the President which identified indiscipline as the main contributory factor to the increasing incidents of road traffic crashes.
She added that “this situation has culminated into total disrespect for road traffic laws and regulations related to travel speeds, overtaking, driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, long driving periods, disregard for traffic regulations by motor riders including the non-use of crash helmets among others.”
BY Melvin Tarlue