Dealing with drivers who cut corners on highways

IT is no surprise that many drivers in this country especially those who drive commercial vehicles (who in our local parlance are referred to us tro-tro drivers), have gained notoriety for various unpardonable offences on our roads.

A litany of these road offences are traffic regulations related—driving at top speed when nearing a Zebra Crossing, and on top of it all not obeying road signs.

Indeed, we are no way absolving those who use private cars. Some of them are even worst than the tro-tro drivers.

Some of these drivers even end up damaging traffic lights but do not find it needful to stop to address the damage they have caused.

This, obviously, is because of the mindset that it is a state property and would be fixed by the central government of the day. Sad isn’t it?

However, a phenomenon that is fast gaining currency in the country is the creating of various illegal U-turns and diversions on highways. A case in point is what is happening on the Accra-Tema Motorway.

Foe instance, Today has observed that though the Tema Motorway carries at 100 kilometres per hour, drivers who ply on this road are doing 100 kilometres and more without any recourse.

In fact, there are even instances where tro-tro drivers are seen carelessly stopping along the motorway for passengers to alight or board.

There is no doubt that the gross misuse of the Accra-Tema Motorway and the creation of U-turns is what is accounting for the many loss of innocent lives on this dangerous road.

Therefore, reports that drivers are creating highway illegal U-turns on highways” is not only alarming but equally worrying,

The situation puts the security of road users at high risk. The only main reason underlying these illegal acts is the avoidance of heavy traffic that mounts on highways.

The funny thing is that in some of the cases these illegalities happen right under the noses of personnel of the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service.

The question therefore is: why wont these recalcitrant drivers of private and commercial vehicles not carry on when those who are expected to enforce the laws are themselves in support of such actions?

The fact of the matter is that we can stem the tide of this phenomenon only if MTTD officers ensure that drivers who indulge in such acts are apprehended and made to face the full rigours of the law.

Anthing short of that will allow such illegalities to gain roots in our society and the consequences would be too heavy for the nation to bear!