Drivers urged to use their seat belts

Mr. Samuel Tetteh, the Eastern Regional Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) Commander of the Ghana Police Service has called on drivers in the region to be circumspect on the road and make effective use of the various road signs.

He reminded the drivers about the benefit of the use of seat belt and explained that, it protects the driver and the passenger in times of trouble.

Mr Tetteh warned the drivers that from the end of September this year, all drivers who do not put on seat belts when driving and encourage their passengers to do the same will be made to face the law.

He was addressing a forum organised the office of MTTU to enlighten road users on the new road safety directives at Koforidua.

Mr Tetteh advised drivers who overload their vehicles to put an end to such acts because it places the lives of passengers in danger and also amounts to an offence punishable by law.

The commander appealed to the drivers to avoid unnecessary overtaken to reduce road accidents and warned those who give their vehicles to other drivers to drive; saying if such incidents are noticed, both the driver and the spare driver will face the law.

He advised the drivers to cultivate the habit of using advance triangle, fire extinguisher and other necessary logistics as it is a must for every driver on the road to have them and cautioned the drivers to be vigilant on the road and make use of the road signs.

Mr David Nordor, the Eastern Regional Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) Director advised the drivers to fix seat belts in their vehicles as this is a new directives and said with effect from September this year, all vehicles which are not equipped with seat belts would not be registered.

He urged the drivers to adopt the usage of seat belt seriously and call on authorities to do more sensitisation programmes to educate the drivers and create awareness.

Mr Muniru Alhassan, the Regional Welfare Officer of Ghana Private Road and Transport Union of the TUC (GPRTU) was grateful for the exercise and its benefits but called for the consultation of drivers when new laws and policies on driving are being plan.

He urged all drivers to be careful and patient on the road and make use of the road signs.