THE Motor Transport Traffic Unit (MTTU), of the Ghana Police Service has arrested over 3,000 drivers who violated traffic regulations in Accra between January and October, this year.
Some of the drivers were taken to court and fined various sums of money amounting to over ?1 billion.
The Accra Central MTTU Commander, Superintendent Victor Tandoh disclosed this in an interview after a road safety outreach programme was jointly organised by the MTTU and the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) at Neoplan Station in Accra.
Superintendent Tandoh said it has come to the notice of the MTTU that the training school programme organised by the MTTU on safe driving for drivers is not being patronised .
He said the MTTU and the NRSC decided to develop the training programme to educate commercial drivers on road signs and other safety regulations. He, therefore, said it is unfortunate that it is not being well patronised.
The commander explained the Road Traffic Amendment Regulations which indicate that any driver found to be driving under the influence of alcohol or drug has to be retested by DVLA to the drivers.
He also educated them on the different variations of drivers licenses to ensure that drivers do not assume that they can drive any vehicle once they possess any licence.
He said the MTTU wants to depart from the era where road safety educational campaigns and strategies were organised through floats and fun fairs. He said it would now be practical education.
Superintendent Tandoh noted that the programme would be extended to other lorry stations such as Tudu, Odaw, Tema and Suhum, among others. ?We have also drawn similar programmes for regional lorry stations,? he said.
He advised executives and drivers of the various unions to ?accident free Christmas? this year and appealed to drivers to attend more of such programmes when it is brought to their door step.
The Chairman of the Neoplan Lorry Station Branch No.4, Mr Kwabena Badu, appealed to the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and other government agencies to provide them with enough parking space and also ensure that potholes on the roads are filled.
He urged floating drivers who have no permanent stations to pay their income taxes regularly to contribute to national development.
The Superintendent in charge of education at the NRSC, Superintendent Fatima Fuseini, assured drivers at the Neoplan Station that kiosks along roads, especially around the Avenor area that impede them would be removed.
