The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) in partnership with the National Insurance Commission (NIC) has sensitized Cambuu (Tricycle) drivers in Wa on the need to observe road safety regulations in order to help prevent rampant road crashes recorded in the region.
In a presentation, Mr Obed Gyammera Antwi, the Upper West regional Planning Manager of the NRSA, noted that from January to August 2022, a total of 67 road crushes with 25 deaths and 51 injuries involving tricycles were recorded.
He said wrongful overtaking, use of unapproved lambs, overloading, non-observance of road signs, and drunk driving are some issues that lead to road accidents.
He indicated that as part of efforts of the authority to curb the menace of road crashes, they had intensified road safety sensitisation, as well as engaging the necessary stakeholders and institutions to ensure the Cambuu drives did the right thing on the road.
“We have intensified road safety educational activities on blackspot roads in the region. We are collaborating with MTTD and DVLA to clamp down on the use of unapproved lambs and we are also collaborating with Wa municipal Assembly to clamp down on unauthorized stations and wrongful parking.
“We are also collaborating with the traditional council to intensify adherence to road safety regulations Mr Antwi explained.
Mr Ishaq Bakuri, the Upper West Regional Commander of the Narcotics Control Commission, advised the Cambuu drivers against taking in hard drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and tramadol as well as excessive energy drinks while driving as that could lead to road accidents.
He said those drugs stimulated the drivers to over speed and flout road signs and road regulations thereby putting the lives of other road users at risk.
Pognaa Amamata Mumuni, Duori Pognaa, who is also the Wa Municipal Girl Child Coordinator, expressed worry about some people using the tricycle to carry school girls to the forest to rape.
She observed that almost all pregnancy cases recorded among the school girls were linked to Cambuu drivers as being the perpetrators and added that some school girls were also abducted and camped by the Cambuu drivers which were affecting the education of girls in the municipality.
Some of the Cambuu drivers raised concerns about what they described as harassment extortions of Cambuu drivers by some police officers on the road.
In view of this, the police advised the Cambuu drivers to report such police personnel for the necessary action to be taken.
Other stakeholders at the sensitization programme were the Motor Transport and Traffic Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), and traditional authorities.