Commercial drivers cautioned not to drive more than eight hours

Agona Swedru, Aug. 2, GNA- Mr. Tetteh Kubi, Assistant Superintendent of Police of the Agona Swedru Divisional Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit of the Ghana Police Service has warned commercial drivers to desist from the habit of travelling more than eight continuous hours. He said the law do not permit them to drive such hours, but some flouted and drove about 18 or more hours which contributed to major fatal accidents.

ASP Kubi was speaking at the road safety forum at the Swedru main lorry park to sensitise commercial drivers on road safety. It was organized by the Agona West Municipal Assembly and Agona Swedru Divisional Police Command of MTTU.

ASP Kubi said about 90 per cent of road accidents occurred through fatigue on the part of drivers, adding that, MTTU personnel were poised to check these drivers who flouted the law to ensure safety on the road. He cautioned drivers to stop overloading and wrong overtaking and urged them to undertake regular maintenance of their vehicles to curtail carnage on the highway.

ASP. Kubi urged passengers to refrain from asking drivers to speed while driving which was against rules and regulations of driving. Mr. Eric Oppong Bediako, Agona West Municipal Co-ordinating Director expressed concern about the spate of accidents and related killing of innocent people on the road and urged MTTU personnel to step up their road checks to reduce the menace.

He said it was the share responsibility of the drivers and passengers to ensure safety on the road and pledged that the Agona West Municipal Assembly would do everything possible to assist Swedru MTTU to work effectively to control traffic congestion in the Swedru Municipality.

Mr. George Obeng, Chairman of the Cooperative Transport Union warned drivers who load outside lorry parks to desist from the act. He said the Agona West Municipal Assembly would join hands with drivers unions to arrest drivers who refused to load at lorry stations. Mr. Obeng appealed to the MTTU personnel in the Agona Swedru to help check traffic congestion in the town which affected the work of commercial drivers.

Nana Yaw Fayah, Chairman of the Progressive Transport Owners Association (PROTOA) expressed concern about the MTTU personnel's refusal to arrest some drivers in the Swedru Municipality whose attitude undermined the work of the transport unions. He said this bad attitude on the part of drivers had generated insanity in the Swedru township and appealed to the Divisional Police Commander and Agona West Assembly to intervene to ensure the safety of passengers.