MTTU boss advises drivers to be patient

Tarkwa, (W/R) Sept. 8, GNA - Drivers have been advised to be patient with personnel of the Motor Traffic and Transport Union (MTTU) at check points or anywhere they undertake operations. Superintendent of Police Slim Opoku Manford, MTTU Commander of the Tarkwa Division who gave the advice said "Exercise patience when you stop for the police to check your vehicle and other documents, it saves the driver from many mishaps."

He was addressing taxi-drivers at Tarkwa on Wednesday on the topic "How disciplined a driver should be."

Superintendent Manford said a good and disciplined driver was one who abides by the rules and regulations of traffic, undertook routine checks on vehicle every morning to ascertain its condition before setting of for work and also carry along with him all necessary documents needed as a driver.

He said overloading was not only an offence but also reduced the life span of the vehicle and gave discomfort to occupants on the vehicle.

Supt. Manford warned drivers to desist from road traffic offences and comport themselves to reduce road accidents which was on the ascendancy in the area as compared to last year. He said last year, 105 accidents occurred in the area out of which 11 people died, 25 of them received serious injuries with 69 receiving minor injuries.

Supt. Manford said between January-August this year, 97 accidents had occurred out of which 14 people died. He attributed some of the accidents to construction works on some of the roads, use of mobile phones while driving and noise from musical gadgets on the vehicles. The MTTU Commander appealed to the Department of Urban roads and Ghana Highways Authority (GHA) to maintain the roads with regular maintenance, provision of streetlights and proper erection of road signs.

He suggested that road contracts should be awarded to competent contractors and road safety campaigns should be organized at the district level to enable drivers be abreast with new developments in driving. Supt. Manford appealed to the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and other transport organizations to support the MTTU to make their easy.

He said the doors of the MTTU was opened to drivers who encountered problems in their operations or with police personnel, however, warned the drivers that anybody who misbehaved would not be spared when arrested.