Pedestrian accidents becoming an epidemic – Ebo Hammond

The President of the Chartered Institution of Logistics and Transport (CILT-Ghana), Mr. Ebo Hammond has observed that pedestrian accidents are becoming an epidemic sweeping away lots of lives and hence, called on relevant road safety bodies to take the necessary actions to redress the disturbing trend.

According to him, the increasing spate of pedestrian accidents on our roads are due to pedestrian carelessness in road usage such as crossing highways at inappropriate portions, non-usage of pedestrian overpass, defective road designs which exposes pedestrians to so much dangers.

He said although pedestrian carelessness can be attributed to these fatalities, non-functioning of traffic lights and international highways running through heavily populated urban centres as well as driver negligence in some extent, are causes.

Mr. Ebo Hammond was speaking in an interview during the 3rd Transport Fleet Managers' workshop held in Accra, yesterday Wednesday, September 19, 2018. He also expressed some reservations at the construction of highways within highly populated areas, saying that the N1 Highway is an example which has become a “killing field.”

Ebo Hammond also expressed worry at the figures of pedestrian accidents recorded for last year, 2017.

He said, out of 3300 pedestrian knockdowns, 879 resulted in deaths which could have been prevented.

According to him this figure forms 43% of the total deaths recorded in 2017. He however suggested that road safety authorities must consider factoring into highway designs, pedestrian overhead crossings which will be situated at strategic points for easy access by pedestrians.

He also advised pedestrians to do away with the habits of using mobile phones whilst crossing the road and take great precaution in road usage.

Transport Fleet Managers' workshop

Addressing participants at the workshop, Ebo Hammond enumerated that managing vehicle fleet is a demanding task that requires the understanding of complex factors such as legislation, maintenance, fuelling, safety, and clients among others.

He mentioned that, “many organisations rely on their transport fleet professionals and their heads to mitigate risks, control cost, work within tight budget and maximising profitability. With stiff competition especially for those in the private sector, being average performer is not good enough. You control huge resources (vehicles etc.) in addition to generating large operating cost of the organization. The other invaluable cost of the organization you directly nor indirectly control is human resources as they use the vehicles for their mobility needs.”

In view of these, he said fleet managers need to be equipped with the relevant knowledge and skills to achieve the efficiency and effectiveness that is expected of them.

“For any seasoned professional, learning should not end. I encourage you to take advantage of industry best practices and available technology in order to ensure your own career success and impact positively on fleet management, “ he said.

On his part, Engr. Mark Affum Amoamah, CILT-Ghana Vice President in charge of Education and Professional Development, stressed that fleet managers must begin to leverage on technology and adopt mechanisms that will enhance their operations since fleet management systems have been in transit.

He said fleet management systems have moved from the area of expertise that was performed exclusively in-house to outsourcing.

Transport managers, he said, are now challenged to go along with fleet management best practices hence, CILT-Ghana through the workshop, provides a common platform to share and learn new trends and modern corporate strategies and be able to provide best fleet management services in their various companies and institutions.