Sunyani Police worried over increased cases of drunk driving

The Sunyani Municipal Motor, Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service has expressed concern over the increase in drunk driving within the Municipality.

It said this had led to an increase in reckless driving; causing inconveniences to other road users as well as road crashes that could be avoided, thereby thwarting their efforts at protecting lives and properties on the road.

Speaking to the Ghana News agency (GNA) in Sunyani, Police Chief Inspector Obeng Dompreh, Sunyani Municipal MTTU Station Officer, pointed out that despite the numerous educational and sensitisation campaigns to motorists through the media and on personal basis, most of them were adamant.

He noted that the refusal of some drivers to comply with the 2008 Traffic Act 761 Section 5, which made it an offence to drink and drive, was a problem which the police together with other stakeholders in the transport industry were collaborating to curb.

Chief Inspector Dompreh explained that not only was drunken driving causing inconveniences for other road users but also impaired driver’s judgment leading to unnecessary overtaking and speeding which could result in road crashes with its corresponding casualties to both the driver and other road users.

He cautioned all road users to abide by the road and traffic regulations to ensure safety on the roads.

Chief Inspector Dompreh appealed to institutions, benevolent organisations and philanthropists to assist the police with alcohol-meter and other logistics to check the menace on roads within the Municipality and the Region.

Mr. Richard Yaw Amankwah, Secretary of the Sunyani branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), reacting to the assertion by the police, confirmed the situation.

“I cannot deny the fact that some of our drivers do not obey the rules since in every human institution there are few bad nuts among the good ones.”

He said the Union frowned on such acts and that they make sure that the drivers were alcohol free before they set off, adding that the sale of alcoholic beverage in and around their terminals had been banned.

Other measures include suspending recalcitrant drivers from driving for three months for the first offence and dismissal on subsequent occasions.

Mr. Amankwah advised motorists within the Municipality to cooperate with the Union as well as the Police to avoid road accidents.