Accra, Oct. 8, GNA - The Motor Transport and Traffic Unit (MTTU) of the Police Service on Wednesday warned motorists, especially non-commercial drivers against recklessness.
The MTTU Commander, Chief Superintendent of Police, Mr Victor Tandoh, who gave the warning said out of 576 traffic offenders arrested in Accra between August and September this year, 383 were private car drivers.
Out of the number, 542 of the offenders were men and 34 women. Mr Tandoh attributed the high accident rate in the country to recklessness, impatience, poor anticipation and judgment, drunkenness, unnecessary over-taking and lack of concentration on the part of most motorists and pedestrians.
Mr Tandoh was speaking at Drivers Education Programme at the 37 Military Lorry Station, organized by the MTTU and the Regional Road Safety Committee aimed at enlightening both drivers and pedestrians on road traffic regulations.
He said 6,578 accidents involving 9,937 vehicles were reported nationwide in the first half of this year, in which ll,828 people were killed with 5,165 others sustaining injuries. Many accidents that occurred within the Accra Metropolis were at traffic lights.
The Police, especially MTTU, Mr. Tandoh said, would deal drastically with traffic offenders noting that the unit has installed cameras at some traffic lights in Accra to detect those abuse traffic light signals.
He said the MTTU would not spare any traffic offender, irrespective of the personality involved.
Mr Tandoh debunked the negative notion that MTTU Personnel are empathetic towards Private Car drivers, and drivers of security car owners.
Speaking on major traffic offences, Deputy Superitendent of Police Mr S. K. Ntim said the Road Traffic Regulations list over 15 major and 300 minor offences.
He said driving without road worthy certificate, insurance certificate, driving licenses, and the usage of learners license for commercial driving all constituted an offence.
