Editorial
Road safety: Are drivers becoming more careful?
Stakeholders including the Ghana Police Service, the National Road Safety Authority, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority launched yet another road safety campaign in November 2022 as the Christmas and New Year festivities approached.
The “Stay Alive; Gyae Obonsam Agyuma No,” crusade was to help reduce road accidents in the Eastern Region and beyond as crashes tended to increase during the yuletide.
Road experts maintain that deaths and injuries could have been avoided if drivers observed road regulations but it appears only a handful of them {drivers} and road users heed this caution.
Even before the 2022 Christmas celebrations started, a number of road accidents had been recorded, many of which might have been caused by driver negligence and bad roads.
Although the impact of the 2022 road safety campaign is yet to manifest, I believe drivers are becoming more careful on our roads. Reflecting on happenings in my locality as of January 5, 2023, I am convinced there was less ‘tragedy’ during the festive season.
This notwithstanding, the road safety campaigns should be an all-year activity. Public education on bad driving habits should not be intensified only on ‘special occasions’ or when sponsors secure enough funds to launch campaign.
Drivers should constantly be reminded that it is not safe to answer phone calls when driving.
No matter what speed one is driving at, mobile phones remain a distractive element. Apart from making voice calls, some drivers tend to bury their head behind the steering wheel to respond to text messages while in traffic.
Already, there are fines for drivers who breach road traffic regulations and I wish to encourage the police to apply those sanctions to the letter, especially when a driver’s carelessness leads to loss of lives.
While at it, I encourage stakeholders to push for the repair of all bad roads. Those without adequate furniture, including street lights and proper markings for safe driving should be restored while those which require dualisation should be completed in time.
By Josephine Nyorkor Ntreh & Serwaa Marfo,
Ghana Institute of Journalism.
Accra.
Dear Editor,
I wish to draw the attention of the relevant authorities to the poor state of the railway crossing area of the Neoplan Station, near Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra, which is increasingly disrupting the smooth flow of traffic.
The damaged section of the road has become a major inconvenience to motorists, as vehicles are forced to slow down considerably when approaching the crossing to avoid damaging their tyres, wheels and suspension systems.
This situation causes unnecessary delays, particularly during peak hours when traffic volumes are high.
The crossing is an important route for commuters and commercial drivers who use the Circle area to connect to other parts of the capital.
The deteriorating road surface therefore affects not only individual motorists but also the general movement of vehicles through this busy transport hub.
Beyond the inconvenience, the situation could increase the risk of minor accidents as drivers brake suddenly or attempt to manoeuvre around damaged portions of the road.
I respectfully appeal to the Department of Urban Roads, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly and other relevant agencies to inspect the affected section and undertake urgent repairs to restore the smooth movement of traffic.
Timely intervention will reduce delays, improve road safety and make commuting through the Circle area more convenient.
Yours faithfully,
Concerned Citizen
SKIP THE QUEUE, TAP THE NEWS
You can now read the Ghanaian Times and The Spectator newspapers from the comfort of your device via TimesNewsPlus.
Join our WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
Dear Editor,
I wish to draw the attention of the authorities and the general public to the increasing cost of hostel accommodation, particularly for students in tertiary institutions.
The high cost of hostels has become a serious challenge for many students and their parents.
In some areas, hostel fees have increased significantly, making it difficult for students from low- and middle-income families to secure decent accommodation.
Apart from the hostel fees, students also have to pay for transportation, food, learning materials and other academic needs.
The rising cost of accommodation therefore puts additional financial pressure on families and, in some cases, forces students to live in overcrowded or poorly maintained facilities.
I believe hostel owners and relevant authorities must work together to ensure that accommodation remains affordable while maintaining acceptable standards.
Tertiary institutions should also consider expanding student accommodation and encouraging affordable private hostel projects.
The government and local authorities could further support the development of low-cost student accommodation through appropriate policies and incentives.
I therefore appeal to the Ministry of Education, tertiary institutions and other stakeholders to treat the issue as a matter of urgency.
Affordable and decent accommodation is essential to creating a conducive environment for students to study and succeed.
This has in a way also empowered the private people in the accommodation sector to take undue advantage of the situation to charge exorbitant rates for their services.
Kwame Ampiaw,
Accra
SKIP THE QUEUE, TAP THE NEWS
You can now read the Ghanaian Times and The Spectator newspapers from the comfort of your device via TimesNewsPlus.
Join our WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
