Editorial
Don’t drive under influence of illegal drugs
In view of drunkenness and drug abuse on the part of some drivers, it is necessary to promote sensitisation for road users.
Experts say alcohol dulls parts of the brain that control how the body works. It can interfere with attention, perceptual functioning, and motor skills, as well as decision-making while driving. Drinking, therefore, impairs the ability to drive and increases the risk of causing an accident.
Incredibly, some of our drivers resort to hard drugs and alcohol before getting into their vehicles at the various lorry stations. This behaviour is bad because while they think the drugs they take can make them work hard and not get tired, they rather harm them in many ways.
Though such drivers are able to work throughout the day and at night in order to make more money for themselves, this behaviour is not good but the drivers are ignorant about the effects on their own lives.
The truth is substance use can impair perception, cognition, attention, balance, coordination, and other brain functions necessary for safe driving. Driving under hard or soft drug has been linked to reckless driving, car crashes, and fatal accidents.
In light of this, The Spectator is advising all our drivers to stay away from this behaviour. When they decide to work throughout the night, their bodies get tired and they can easily break down or have accidents on the road.
The result may be unpleasant as lives can be lost. This brings sadness to many families.
As Christmas approaches, many drivers are planning to take advantage of the festive season to make more profit. They must do this through their natural strength, not by any other means.
They should avoid their usual intention to work extra hours by using hard or soft drugs like marijuana, hashish, ecstasy, and cocaine to achieve their goals.
Every driver must abstain from using these drugs.
It is also good that everyone abstains from drugs in order for our society to be free and safe.
Christmas is a season of peace. We must all work to make the season a happy, peaceful, and enjoyable occasion.
Dear Editor,
Walking along roads in some parts of the capital has become increasingly challenging.
While trading on pedestrian walkways remains a concern in certain areas, the parking of vehicles on road shoulders also poses a serious risk to pedestrians.
Often, pedestrians are forced to walk dangerously close to these parked vehicles or even step into the middle of the road to make way for oncoming traffic.
This situation is not only frustrating but also highly unsafe.
I recall an incident when I alighted at a lorry station and was walking home. A Tata bus was approaching, and due to vehicles parked on both sides of the road, I had nowhere to walk safely.
The situation became so dangerous that I had to quickly jump into a nearby shop to avoid being knocked down by the oncoming Tata bus.
That experience was frightening and could have easily resulted in an accident.
In my view, it is time for authorities in the road sector, such as the National Road Safety Authority and the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service, to take urgent action to address this issue and prevent possible loss of life.
Strict enforcement measures, including towing improperly parked vehicles and imposing substantial fines, would serve as a deterrent to offenders.
From Ray
Adabraka
Dear Editor,
I wish to use this column of your respected newspaper to appeal to the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service to consider bringing back the practice where students stayed home for some months after completing the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
Within that period where they stay home for some time and wait for their results, it afforded parents some time to prepare and save towards the next move in the academic life of their children.
In recent times, students are quickly admitted into Senior High School immediately after their examinations, leaving little time for parents and guardians to adequately prepare financially and emotionally for the next stage of their children’s education.
Many parents, therefore struggle to buy school items such as chop boxes, trunks, mattresses, uniforms and other necessities within the short period given.
This situation places pressure on families, especially those with low incomes.
Previously, the break after BECE allowed students to rest after years of academic work while parents and guardians made proper preparations for their wards.
It also gave students enough time to learn vocational skills, assist their families and mature before entering boarding school life.
Bringing back this period will greatly reduce stress on both parents and students and help ensure better preparation for Senior High School education.
And one other thing we have not taken notice of is that within that period, parents also prepare their children mentally and psychologically before they go to school. They are thought how to be independent.
So we see new secondary students displaying an appreciable level of maturity which is missing in this era where they go to senior high schools and still behave like primary school kids.
I hope the authorities will carefully consider this concern in the interest of students, parents and guardians across the country.
By Eugene Ampiaw,
Accra.
