Appoint Road Marshalls to help check traffic recklessness

Kasoa (C/R), June 19, GNA - The Chairman of the Awutu Breaku Community tribunal, Mr Justice Emmanuel Wilson, has suggested the appointment of Road Marshals to help the police to check reckless driving on the highways.

He said that the limited number of police personnel and their heavy work load makes it essential to set up such a task force to operate along side the law enforcing agents.

Justice Wilson was speaking at a durbar organised by the Ghana Private Road Transport Union and Shell Company Ghana Limited, at Kasoa on Sunday.

More than 300 drivers and transport owners attended the function, which was to educate them on road traffic regulations. He stressed the importance of the transport sector to the economy and urged them to promote the industry.

Justice Wilson warned them against alcoholism and drug abuse adding that, "such habits often lead to disaster".

He said that Judges do not feel happy imposing huge fines and sentences on drivers because of the important role they play in nation building and the consequences of such punishment on their dependants.

Mr Wilson appealed to the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) to widen the shoulders of the Accra-Cape Coast road while efforts are being made to reconstruct it.

Mr Justice M. Y. Amegashie, Director of the Driving and Vehicle Examination Authority (DVEA), suggested to the GPRTU to organise regular orientation courses for its members to keep them abreast with road safety guidelines.

He educated the drivers on the correct use of road signs and said that they should adhere strictly to them.

Mr Amegashie said that DVEA has initiated a programme to educate drivers on Ghana Television in the local languages. He said that efforts are also being made for regional and district FM stations to allow the police, officers of DVEA and the GPRTU to use their network to educate drivers.

Mr Joseph Y. Danso, Winneba District Police Commander, said that 138 accidents resulting in 41 deaths were recorded on the Kasoa - Winneba road between January and May this year.

He said that 63 accidents were recorded in the Kasoa area alone with 19 deaths during the period and warned drivers against speeding and unnecessary overtaking, which are the major causes of accident.

Mr David Kudowor, Chief Revenue Inspector of the Internal Revenue Services (IRS), said that 270 million cedis was collected from Kasoa between January and March out of which the GPRTU contributed eighth per cent.