Drivers in Wa sensitized on seatbelt enforcement programme

Some drivers and transport owners of the Ghana Private Road and Transport Union (GPRTU) in Wa have been sensitised on the seatbelt enforcement programme being spearheaded by the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC).

The programme is being implemented in two phases; phase one has already started since September 1, 2014.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) had said that new vehicles meant for public passenger service would not be registered without seatbelts fitted on them.

Under the phase two, the DVLA would focus on the supply, installation and training of identified personnel in the fitting of the seatbelts in vehicles.

The NRSC would lead the public sensitisation and education on the safety benefits of seatbelts while the police Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) would take charge of the enforcement of the seatbelt law.

From March 2015, already existing vehicles would not be issued road worthy certificate unless each seat is fitted with a seatbelt.

Hannatu Abudulai, the Assistant Planning Officer (APO) of the NRSC, in charge of Upper West Region, said seat belts were important requirement for vehicle’s safety, adding that, they offered protection against ejection in crash situations.

Seatbelts have about 50 per cent and 75 per cent reduction in risk for front and rear occupants respectively, in the event of a crash, says the World Health Organisation.

She said it was in this regard that the Road Traffic Regulation, 2012 L. I. 2180 (Regulations 119 and 120) provided for the use and fitting of seatbelts in vehicles.

The APO noted that seatbelts reduced the risk of contact with the interior of the vehicle; it also protects the brain and spinal cord against injury during crash as well as prevents or minimizes injury to other occupants of the same vehicle.

Mr. Emmanuel T. K. Narh, Regional Director of DVLA said it was because of frequent occurrence of accidents that had necessitated the need for fitting and wearing of seatbelts to reduce the high risk of deaths and injuries.

He said more than 95 per cent of accidents were due to human errors, adding that, it was because majority of drivers lacked the capacity to identify hazards that could cause accidents.

He appealed to drivers to build their capacity so that they could easily identify both movable and immovable hazards and predict their consequences in order to prevent accidents.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DCOP), Mr. Joseph Oppong, Upper West Regional Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit of the Ghana Police Service, also cautioned drivers to learn how to drive defensively to prevent accidents.

He appealed to the drivers and transport owners to cooperate with the police when it came to enforcement of the seatbelt law to save lives and also maintain the good relationship that existed between them.

Mr. Mohammed Abdul-Samad, the Upper West Regional Manager of the NRSC, noted that, the Commission would continue to educate the drivers and transport owners to ensure that they get the necessary information to do the right thing.

The drivers also appealed to stakeholders in charge of the implementation of the law to ensure that adequate structures were put in place to speed up the process especially the fitting of seatbelts.