GPRTU mad over non-registration of vehicles without seatbelts
The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) is fuming with rage over the decision by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to not register and renew the road-worthiness of commercial vehicles which do not have seatbelts fixed to each seat.
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According to the Chairman of the association, Mr Robert Sarbah, the decision, if not rescinded, would destroy the transport business and double the unemployment rate in Ghana, since more than 50 per cent of drivers would be rendered jobless.
“As affected persons, our views on this matter were not sought, a development which we regard as most unfortunate. If we have been relegated to the background, we should not be denied education on this new regulation,” he said at a press conference in Accra last Wednesday.
Background
In July this year, the Chief Executive of the DVLA, Mr Rudolph Beckley, announced that with effect from September 2014, new commercial vehicles meant for passenger transport service without seatbelts would not be registered.
He also said from March 2015, the DVLA would not renew the roadworthiness of commercial vehicles which did not have seatbelts fixed to each seat, in line with Road Traffic Regulation, 2012 (LI 2180) Section 119 (1) which has been passed by Parliament.
Since the announcement was made, some transport agencies in the country have kicked against the decision, describing it as a move that can worsen the economic state of drivers.
Untrue assertions
Mr Sarbah said the assertion by the DVLA that the implementation of the use of seatbelts would bring about a 50 per cent reduction in accident deaths by 2020 was not backed by scientific proof.
“It is pure fallacy intended to throw dust into the eyes of the public and also win public sympathy to incite the people against the GPRTU and other transport operators,” he said.
He observed that seatbelts were not the only safeguard against accidents and that the authorities should widen their focus to cover other preventive measures.
He mentioned bad roads, the non-availability of road markings, absence of street lights, unclear road signs and lack of good spare parts for use by drivers as major contributory factors to road accidents.
Developed world
According to Mr Sarbah, in the developed world from where Ghana adopts most of its policies and where seatbelts are manufactured, some concessions have been made for intra-city (trotro) bus services.
“Many can attest to the fact that on visits to London, Liverpool and Manchester in England, passengers who board intra-city buses are not required to put on seatbelts and there are some who even stand in those buses,” he said.
Mr Sarbah said the fixing of seatbelts policy was introduced in South Africa and Nigeria but abandoned by the authorities after it proved impracticable.
