Gov't must enforce spot-fine law – ASP Nortey

An appeal has been made to the government to enforce the spot-fine law on drivers who commit various traffic offences, to ensure discipline and reduction in fatal accidents on the roads.

The out-going Divisional Commander of the Agona Swedru branch of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), Assistant Superintendent of Police(ASP), Philip Nortey, made the passionate appeal at the end-of-year awards of drivers at Agona Swedru.

The awards ceremony was organized by the Agona Swedru branch of the Co-operative Transport Union to honour disciplined and hardworking drivers of the Union.

According to the MTTU Commander, the suspension of the law has encouraged drivers to show gross indiscipline on the roads, which had resulted in fatal accidents in recent times.

ASP Nortey said major problems confronting drivers are indiscipline and disrespect of the law, and appealed to them to desist from acts that could cause terrible accidents during and after the Christmas holidays.

According to ASP Nortey, statistics at the Central Regional Office of the Road Safety Commission indicate that the region recorded the highest number of deaths in the country on road accidents.

The Commander, who did not give details, cautioned drivers to stop wrongful over-taking, over-loading and over-speeding.

Mr Charles Obeng-Inkoom, Member of Parliament for Agona West, warned drivers not to exhibit negative attitudes that would lead to the loss of lives and property.

He attributed the high accident rate on the roads to drivers not heeding to advice given by government and other state institutions through the road safety campaigns.

Mr Inkoom said government spends huge sums of money on road safety campaigns in a bid to reduce fatality on the roads, yet drivers continue to create panic and fear among the travelling public at all times.

He, therefore, appealed to drivers to dress decently to enable the public and passengers to respect them at all times.

The MP commended the Agona Swedru Co-operative Transport Union for recording zero accidents throughout the year.

Mr George Obeng Godey, Chairman of the Agona Swedru Co-operative Union, said the branch executives instituted the awards to honour selfless, dedicated and disciplined drivers.

He said the awards would encourage drivers to continue to exhibit a high sense of discipline, and be law-abiding to help reduce the carnage on the roads in 2014.

Mr Godey appealed to government to provide vehicles and logistics to support the Agona Swedru Divisional MTTU Command, to enable the personnel to carry out their duties effectively to reduce accidents in the area.