Road safty

I started writing about Road safety back in 2005. The current Ministry of Road and Transport needs to seriously engage all stakeholders in order to have a programme, which would reduce death on our roads. Putting up speed limit signs is simple start to reducing death on our roads. No electricity will be needed as these signs can be erected in any part of the country at a minimal cost. We can use solar power sign post as well.

Our police should reinforce this speed limit and put the police patrols on commission that; for every speeding offence, the police force gets a cut in monies collected in the form of bonuses. It might encourage some corruption? However if it encourages enthusiasm among the police for enforcing the law, it will still be beneficial. I must say during my recent visit to Ghana I observed the improvement the police are making however we still have a long way to go.

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Every heavily used junction and roundabout must have traffic lights. This may appear expensive, but it is worth the investment in the long term..

Do our trotro and taxi drivers know the Highway Code? This is what the Drivers union at station should be educating their members as well as the DVLA with endorsement from the IGP. Every driver should know the High way codes and this could be checked regularly when drivers stop at Road Barriers. The police could do a mental check on High Way codes as a routine without charging the drivers.

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Drivers Unions at every station need to take on this responsibility seriously to ensure safety on our roads. They should be the first to make sure that their members thoroughly know the Highway Codes and adhere to them and also linking with the police if they have concerns about the roadworthiness of a vehicle. This would not only improve safety of the passengers, but the drivers and the reputation of the driver unions. Therefore, these Unions should be awarded with remuneration or certificates.

I have learnt that Kumasi rewards the best drivers of the year and best practice needs to be emulated across the board. This would need to be encouraged with the Government backing throughout every station. Awards should also be awarded to the best station unions that ensure safety and have evidence of low Road Traffic Accident levels in their areas.

Drivers are more likely to listen to their Station Union lead person than the police. This would also free up our police force’s time. An integrated team should be set up with station union representatives, the police, some representatives from the DVLA, lead people from the Ministry of Road and Transport, and representatives from the regional Chiefs. Passengers should also have a voice and it should be encourage by driver union for every station to have a suggestion box that passengers could drop in an idea to improve conditions of any kind. It may be as simple as building a toilet facilities at a station

Nobody or organization could work alone in tackling road safety in any country. This collaboration is essential in order to think strategically and plan road safety effectively and efficiently.

Are vehicles checked a roadworthiness check test? Is the DVLA checking the roadworthiness of vehicles before renewing road tax? Is this done annually just like the developed countries? This is proving a vital requirement in Ghana given the number accidents we are currently seeing on pour roads.

In Ghana and other underdeveloped countries, drivers use their tyres until they are on their last legs or a massive puncture before the tyre is changed. These habits have cost lives on our roads yet sadly this still continues. Introducing a policy for all trotro drivers and taxi drivers to have the owners or a central place to phone in and report reckless drivers would be helpful.

In the capital cities of Accra, Kumasi and others places do we have parking meters at all? We are looking of ways to get money to make our road safe for every one and surely this is a way to get some revenues to help in the regeneration of the beauty of our capital cities. This revenue would certainly help in keeping our city, gutters clean etc.

There is a need to put signs for parking at certain times only, so that no one parks indiscriminately. Heavy fines would deter motorists from parking indiscriminately.

Drivers drive at the same speed in built up areas. It would be helpful if the speed limit of 20- 30MPH in the built up places and villages and 60 -70 a national speed limit on the motorways. The Department of Road and Transport need to ensure Crash barriers in every major road such as the Accra. Aflao road and more so these road should be a dual carriage road not a single road. Has there been a survey about the road traffic accidents on roads like the Accra- Aflao roads and the Kumasi roads?

Currently, between major cities, there is only one road. When there is a problem, the whole traffic stops. Intercity traffic should be segregated from local traffic. This way intercity traffic will move faster, and local roads will be easier to cross because heavy long distance traffic will not be on them. This will make roads safer for everyone, and also provide an alternative route if a road has to be closed. Drivers are always overtaking and most of the times without even checking to see the incoming traffic.

How many more people needed to be added to the Road Traffic Accident statistics? The DVLA, The Police and all the authorities responsible for such issues need to act. Do we need to be proactive or reactive in preventing road traffic accidents? This is the question representative for road safety need to be asking themselves? Sadly to spell it out but if we don’t act now, you could be the next victim tomorrow. This is not a laughing matter.

Are drivers still drinking alcohol and driving afterwards? I doubt if we have the breathlizers for the police to randomly check motorists. Some lorry drivers too do not even take short breaks when driving. Such practices are not very helpful as these drivers and get tired behind their wheels and they are the main cause of most accidents. We should encourage roadside café’ or restaurants with decent safe parking, toilets and no alcohol. Drivers can then take a break in comfort.

Safety of large vehicles is paramount. Some heavy good drivers force themselves to reach a destination even if they are too tired to make a journey.

Reducing Road Traffic accidents must be a national is a national affair with media campaign on T.V at prime TV times, all trotro, taxi and bus stations.

Radios campaigns; posters at Bus stops and local chiefs addressing this issue during their Annual festivals etc. The national speed limit needs to be publicized so that our public could challenge any driver who does not comply with the national speed restrictions. Churches must also rein enforce the message of road safety on Sundays.

All drivers should have their own mobile numbers on the back of their lorries. There must be this simple message. How is my driving? Passengers should be empowered to report bad driving to the owners as soon as possible. Though this is helpful the police crack down on these evil drivers killing people prematurely.

One-way traffic should be encouraged around the entire city, and it would be helpful if crash barriers were installed on all our motorways. For example, the Accra - Aflao road should be a dual-carriage road not a single road. This road is a heavily used road at all times.

All Zebra crossings should have lights flicking and heavy fines should be placed on accidents that occurs around the zebra crossing. Crossing points need to be graded to road level so that infirm people, push chairs, bikes and hand pulled trucks can cross easily.

We are getting there but still rather a long way to get there. Speed breaks in built up areas; we could use old tyres to narrow roads at certain points, speed bumps (deliberate!) to hinder open access. The police should have regular updates about Prevention of Road traffic accidents and learn from each accident.

If seems the police are now the police were doing their jobs properly therefore respect for the all road traffic regulations must be adhered to. No one should bribe the police when they are doing their work and rewards to the best police in each region would help.

Increase moral, confidence and faith in the police service. All Ghanaians need to help the Government in making this happen. Together we could reduce Road traffic Accidents and the impact would cascade into attracting more people such as the tourists we desperately need into the country.

Eventually, there should be Electronic notice boards on all our motorways to help with communication on our busy road. For example, if an accident happens earlier on how on earth would other drivers know until they also drive into traffic chaos? We are in a Modern Ghana with computers everywhere. Our people are in every part of the globe to help Ghana. The Minister of Road and Transport by now should a program for Road safety measures, a monitoring program and a review and evaluation process quarterly. We want to see what is being done.

His department and the DVLA should be talking to the motorist at all times on our roads using sign posts and daily campaigns on radios etc.

The road safety needs of every group in our country should be considered when it comes to the planning of safety measures. There are also a large number of disabled people in our society and how do they go about their daily lives safely?

Do we have an annual national safety campaign in the country to publicly announce what the Government achievements on Road Safety are to date? There should be a national campaign of road safety to create awareness. Posters on Safety, in Churches, schools, lorry stations, and anywhere one could think of would help with the reduction of casualties.

On the Tema Motor way there are lots of non- functioning streetlight hanging. This is an eye sore. Even before one gets to the Kpone barrier, heavy oil vehicles are crossing the roads yet there is no active traffic lights to guide the traffic heavy traffic from the oil refinery. Yet again this is disaster waiting to happen.

Along the La Bone dual carriage road there is a sharp U turn to get into the other dual carriage yet there is no glittering signpost to alert motorist about the dangers. For example, sharp turn ahead, slow down. Why is the Ministry of Road and Transport not proactive in their thinking? Involve the trotro drivers, taxi drivers and the public in open meeting and tap into their brains to get the right answers for managing our roads. Every station must have an annual general meeting so that record of accidents arising from a particular station could be highlighted and plan put in place to reduce the occurrence.

Some of these ideas will cost considerable sums (new roads, traffic lights, and electronic message boards) but others are low tech and easily implemented. When I initially wrote this article I expected majors changes to happen. I would say we still have a very long way to go to ensure safety on our roads and pavements. When should the nation expect to see real progress in this area? Would it be when we start our oil business?