The University of Cape Coast (UCC) has introduced a maiden sandwich programme worldwide that is promoting Driving Management Science (DMS) as an alternative academic professional driver training module that would enhance the competence of drivers.
The DMS tertiary programme began on May 12 this year and 43 graduate drivers had been enrolled for lectures.
The initiative, which is the brainchild of Dr. Godfred Akyea Darkwa, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Road Safety and Transportation Consultancies (RSTC), was aimed at avoiding all forms of human errors leading to road crashes.
Dr. Darkwa, a Risk Manager, Road Safety Consultant and Chartered Insurance Practitioner, introduced the DMS concept in 2005, as an alternative academic professional driver training module that would enhance the competence of drivers to avoid all forms of human errors leading to road crashes.
A statement issued in Accra by RSTC said Dr. Darkwa identified the levels of road crashes and the amount of claims paid to victims nationwide to conduct research into the matter.
The research revealed human error as the fundamental challenge.
A critical look at road errors pointed to the fact that the low level of knowledge by drivers is a singular source of the problem.
From 1991-2009, National Road Safety Commission indicated that a total number of 189,172 crashes were reported, which claimed 27,822 lives while 91,178 persons were seriously injured.
The RSTC therefore promoted its original copyright DMS educational concept as a road safety educational module to address the short fall.
In 2006, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed for the implementation of professional drivers programme as tertiary curriculum under the Department of Geography and Planning and Tourism of the UCC.
Drivers who are admitted to the school are supposed to successfully study through DMS Advance level course and pass an examination.
The three-year course treat students to advance safe driving, features of modern vehicles terrain, management in driving to Highway Code, communication skills in French.
The students spans junior high school and senior high school drop outs, General Certificate Examination “Ordinary Level” holders with valid driving license and a minimum of two years driving experience plus a certificate in DMS Professional Basic intermediate and Advance level examinations among other qualifications.**
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