Haulage vehicles destroying our roads

Dear Editor,

Successive governments have spent millions over the years maintaining the country’s roads.

Despite these huge investments, many roads continue to deteriorate due to several factors, including the operations of haulage vehicles.

It is unfortunate that many haulage vehicles, such as tractor-trailers, tipper trucks, and tankers transporting goods from the ports, contribute significantly to road damage.

In many cases, these vehicles are overloaded, placing excessive pressure on road surfaces and accelerating their deterioration.

Regulation 52 of the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2180), requires that loads carried on vehicles or trailers be securely fastened, protected, and properly packed to prevent them from sliding, shifting, or falling off.

However, compliance with this regulation remains a challenge.

There have also been reports of some heavy-duty vehicles bypassing designated weighbridges and failing to comply with axle-load limits as required by law. This weak enforcement has allowed some operators to continue violating regulations with little consequence.

The issue recently came up on the floor of Parliament, where lawmakers called for stricter enforcement of the laws governing the operations of haulage vehicles.

Their concerns highlight the urgent need for stronger monitoring and tougher sanctions against offenders.

As a concerned citizen, I believe the time has come for Ghana to treat this issue with the seriousness it deserves.

Protecting our roads is a shared responsibility that requires effective enforcement of existing laws and greater accountability among transport operators.

The country cannot continue spending large sums of money repairing roads that are repeatedly damaged by preventable practices such as overloading and non-compliance with axle-load regulations.

Resources that could be invested in education, healthcare, agriculture, and other critical sectors should not be diverted to avoidable road maintenance.

Ensuring strict adherence to haulage regulations will not only preserve the nation’s road infrastructure but also promote safer and more efficient transportation for all road users.

B. Acton-Tettey,

Sukura-Accra