Check reckless drivers
Christmas is about a month away. This time of the year is always a busy period when everybody tries to make the best out of the mood of the season.
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Other people at this time also take advantage of the situation to create hardships for their compatriots. Very soon, the prices of goods and services will change on the market in anticipation of the influx of people from all parts of the country to buy items for the Christmas festivities.
In the run-up to Christmas, Accra will burst at the seams, with last-minute shoppers milling their way to the central business district to make the best bargains for goods and services.
For this reason, our roads will very soon be choked with all manner of vehicles and drivers. Some of the vehicles are likely not to be roadworthy, while their drivers will operate without drivers’ licences.
On occasions like this, the transport regulatory organisations, such as the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC), the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service and the transport unions, organise public educational campaigns and educate motorists and passengers on the dos and don’ts on our roads.
Drivers use the opportunity presented by the festivities to maximise their earnings by speeding to and from their destinations and, in so doing, they do not observe road traffic regulations.
Common sights on the roads at this time are wrongful overtaking, the dropping and picking of passengers at unauthorised places, speeding and drink driving.
Although accidents happen throughout the year, they are always on the higher side during festive occasions such as Easter and Christmas.
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Regrettably, even before we could gird our loins for the festive occasion, some reckless drivers are causing pain to families, friends and the state by killing their passengers through their disregard for traffic regulations.
Just yesterday, a DAF cargo truck driver who was allegedly drunk beyond comprehension caused mayhem in Kumasi when he recklessly killed eight people and seriously injured five others at the Sofoline Interchange.
The driver, Isaac Essel, apparently oblivious of the carnage he had caused, continued driving until the police shot at the front tyres of the truck to stop him.
Besides the pain that road crashes cause their victims, families and friends, the state also spends millions of scarce resources on the health needs of such accident victims.
We know the causes of road crashes in this country, as research has established that 70 per cent of them are caused by human error.
The Daily Graphic, therefore, appeals to the authorities to work on the psychology and the mindset of all drivers, especially commercial ones, so that they will respect road traffic regulations to reverse the carnage on our roads.
It is also important for the police to rein in their men who condone the flouting of the laws.
Our roads play a key role in the economic development of the country, for which reason everything must be done to stop those who want to make our roads a death trap.
The Daily Graphic wants all road users to contribute their quota towards efforts at making the upcoming Christmas festivities incident-free.