body-container-line-1
14.09.2005 General News

Police announce measures to check accidents

By GNA
Police announce measures to check accidents
14.09.2005 LISTEN

Accra, Sept. 14, GNA - As part of measures to check the spate of accidents on the roads, the Police would from next week embark on a nation-wide exercise to clampdown on the use of rickety vehicles, vehicles with defective tyres and lights.

Police would also rigorously check acts of dangerous driving such as jumping the red light, overtaking in curves, on hills and forcing other vehicles to veer of the road, exceeding the speed limit of 50 kilometres per hour in towns and 80 kph on the highways.

A statement signed by Mr David Eklu, Director, Public Affairs, said the Police would also go all out to check overloading, driving under the influence of alcohol and the use of single tyres and carriers on Mercedes Benz 207 buses.

"All those who ride unregistered motorbikes will also be arrested and prosecuted."

The statement said Police would check the licences of drivers to ensure that they had been renewed and that they corresponded with the correct class of vehicles they had been permitted to drive. Those, who leave disabled or broken down vehicles on the road without informing the Police or placing appropriate warning triangles, would also face the full rigours of the law.

The statement said these measures were instituted at the end of an emergency meeting convened by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong at the Police Headquarters on Tuesday for Motor Traffic Transport Unit (MTTU) and Regional Commanders from Accra, Tema, Western, Ashanti, Eastern and Central Regions to discuss and put in place tactics to deal with accidents and other acts of lawlessness on the roads.

The IGP has also directed all commanders in the Regions, Divisions and Districts to hold meetings with the various transport unions for a combined and co-ordinated action to ensure safety on the roads. Ghana has seen an alarming rise in accidents over the past few weeks in which about one dozen people were killed. The latest was Tuesday when the former Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Edward Osei-Kweku was killed in Kumasi.

The statement said during the emergency meeting, the Senior Police Officers also took cognisance of public concerns and criticisms of the action of some Police personnel on traffic enforcement and barrier duties.

For example, some unprofessional conducts such as extortion, taking bribes from drivers, not physically inspecting vehicles, lack of courtesy towards passengers and drivers and improper turnout of personnel on duty were discussed.

"To check these negative practices, the IGP has directed that all MTTU Commanders as well as other Senior Officers in the various regions, divisions and districts should publish their cell and office phone numbers through the local FM Stations to enable members of the public to call or text information on any Police officer seen taking money from drivers."

The information should include the service number of the Police Officer, time, place and registration number of both the Police vehicle if any and that of the passenger or private vehicle.

In addition, passengers who have cell phones are also encouraged to send text messages through the following mobile phone numbers whenever any driver was seen driving dangerously or recklessly on the roads.

The telephone numbers are as follows:

Fixed Line mobile phone

Accra (Central) 021-664206 024-3850021 020-2012473 Odorkor 021-305147 -- Tesano 021-245736 -- Nima 021-226191 -- Kpeshie 021-712060 020-6118926 Labadi 021-775525 -- Osu 021-776150 -- Cantonments 021-776571 Tema 022-202779 020-8173941 Ada 0968-22011 024-2115778 Ho 091-26203 024-4636575 Sogakope -- 024-3127188 Aflao 0962-30439 024-4146283 Kumasi 051-25463 020-8186116 Konongo 0531-24218 024-4361643

Takoradi 031-46896 -- Sekondi 031-46123 020-8149529 Cape Coast 042-32413 024-4792141 Kasoa -- 020-8190734 024-4986060 Winneba 0432-22015 020-9189262 Saltpond 042-33843 024-2115778 Agona Swedru 041-22906 024-3243888 Koforidua 081-22906 024-3243888 Nkawkaw 0842-22298 024-4591076 Nsawam 0832-22083 024-4624848 Suhum 0858-22106 020-8162636 Kibi -- 024-4729886

The statement said additional cell phone numbers would be provided in due course to enable the public to send text messages whenever they observed such unlawful acts on the roads.

"The Police strongly advise private car owners and those in influential positions or the 'big men' not to intervene whenever drivers are arrested.

"All those with private cars should also stop giving their cars to their under-aged and unlicensed children."

The Senior Police Officers also expressed concern about the delay in passing the necessary regulations to make the new Road Traffic Act operational.

The Commanders, therefore, urged the Ministry of Road Transport to speed up the process of enacting the regulations to enable the Police to enforce the new laws such as on-the-spot fines.

The Police Administration, therefore, strongly advises vehicle owners, drivers, motorcyclists and all road users to ensure that their vehicles were fit; they obeyed all road traffic regulations and desisted from influencing the Police.

body-container-line