Parties in Upper East adopt road safety code

Bolgatanga, June 24, GNA- Political parties in the Upper East Region have adopted a road safety code to ensure safety on the roads, before, during and after the 2008 Election. The leadership of the parties accepted the code at a forum, organized by the Road Safety Commission on Tuesday in Bolgatanga. The parties were the New Patriotic Party, National Democratic Party, the Conventions People's Party, People National Convention Party, and Democratic Freedom Party.

They all pledged to educate their members and supporters on the need to abide by the code to avoid accidents. Under the code, supporters of political parties should not get drunk when riding motor or bicycle, driving vehicle or occupying open pick-up vehicle during rallies.

Drivers should not overtake, over speed or hoot their horns unnecessarily, among other restrictions. The code also requested supporters to put on seat belts and vehicles that would used to convey them to rallies should be checked to certify that their break lights, indicator lights, steering wheels, and seat belts among others were all in good condition. Assistant Superintendent of Police, Seth Tay, Upper East Regional Deputy Commander in-charge of the Motor Traffic and Transport, Unit (MTTU), asked the public to obey traffic regulations to avoid accidents. He advised motor riders to always wear crash helmets, avoid over speeding and wrong overtaking and drunkenness whilst riding. Superintendent of Police, Innocent Avevor, entreated the leadership of political parties to ensure that their supporters obeyed the code to avoid accidents on the roads.

He noted that election was about numbers and the death of supporters of any political party could affect its chances in the polls. Mr. Alexander Ayatah Atiibo, the Coordinator of the Road Safety Commission in the region, expressed dismay at the spate of road accidents in the country and said most of the accidents were caused by human errors that could have been prevented if care was taken. He stressed the need for the leadership of political parties to always make sure that their vehicles were in good condition before embarking on their campaign trips. Mr. Atiibo appealed to political parties to appoint responsible persons to enforce the code to curtail carnage on the roads.