NRSC/Police MTTD train accident prevention squad

The National Road Safety Commission(NRSC) working in collaboration with the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) has trained some thirty-five (35) Police MTTU personnel drawn from ten (10) police districts across the country on accident prevention.

The novelty project which is part of strategies and interventions to reduce and subsequently curb road traffic crashes also has the object of training Police MTTU personnel to adopt equipment based enforcement for prevention of crashes.

The training workshop was held in Koforidua from 3rd-7th October, 2016 and was funded by the Ghana Road Fund.

The trained personnel who form the Accident Prevention Squad (APS) have the mandate to monitor some major crash prone road corridors whilst using modern technology for road traffic regulation enforcement. They will also monitor assigned routes, intensify routine patrols to check on offending motorists especially on speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs and overloading.

The road corridors are Tema-Kasseh (Ada), Kasseh-Sogakope-Aflao, Tema-Akosombo, Akosombo-Ho, Suhum-Nkawkaw, Techiman-Kintampo, Kintampo-Buipe. The rest are Kasoa-Winneba-Cape Coast, Cape Coast-Takoradi, Yamoransa-Assin Fosu and Assin Fosu-Anwiankwanta.

The training focused on topics such as casualties and contributory factors to crashes, road safety interventions, road environment and safety standards, vehicle standards and regulations. Other topics treated were on post crash response and management, strategic traffic law enforcement practices for accident prevention and theory on traffic law enforcement equipment.

Personnel will be equipped with devices including Trucam Speed Radar Gun, Alcometer, Dashboard Cameras, Height Gauge, Digital Measuring Wheel, Laptop Computer, Cross Country Vehicle.

The NRSC, Police MTTD and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and other stakeholders are committed are working tirelessly to ensure that the road traffic regulations are enforced to the letter.

As at the end of September 2016, reported cases of road traffic crashes were 9,205 involving 14,342 vehicles. This resulted in 1,579 deaths and 8,006 injuries. Over the period, there were 2,086 pedestrian knock-downs. We seize the opportunity to call on all road users to remain responsible in order not to be inconvenienced by the enforcement processes.