‘Drivers need basic academic qualification’

Mr Godwin Nyamuame, Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at Ho Polytechnic has asserted that drivers needed Basic Education qualification to fit into modern trends in driving and vehicle designs.

He therefore urged government not to compromise the acquisition of the Basic Education Certificate as a condition for acquiring driving licence.

Mr Nyamuame was speaking to the Ghana News Agency at a workshop on advanced defensive driving for 42 public sector drivers in Ho.

It was organised by Alma Consult Limited

The workshop sought to educate the drivers on the new road traffic regulations, techniques in driving under various conditions, principles and practices of defensive driving and relevance of road signs.

Mr Nyamuame, emphasized that Road Offence Regulations LI952 of 1974 and the Road Traffic Regulations Ll 952 of 1974 cannot be undervalued in defensive driving because they were meant to prevent accidents.

He said the workshop was important because not all drivers learned driving from driving schools and therefore needed regular refresher courses and information on modern and sophisticated vehicles.

He urged drivers to strive to understand and apply road signs meant to warn, order or direct them when driving.

Mr Nyamuame said carelessness, fatigue, drunkenness, use of drugs and slow reaction to situations were some causes of road accidents.

He asserted that asphaltic roads were also responsible for road accidents in Ghana.

He explained that because asphalt roads were petroleum based, they absorbed heat and melted creating a slippery surface and reduce the friction between the tyres of vehicles and those roads.

He emphasized that the types of roads suitable for Ghanaian weather conditions were concrete, as for example the Tema motorway, and bitumen base overlaid with quarry stones.