The Greater Accra Regional branch of the Ghana Private Roads Transport Union (GPRTU) is calling on the government to amend the law on the compulsory use of seat belts in all public transport vehicles.
According to them the directive is better suited to vehicles that ply intercity but not intra city vehicles.
The Driver Vehicle and License Authority (DVLA) per Section 119 of the Road Traffic Regulation Legislative Instrument (LI) 2180, directed that all public transport vehicles should be fitted with seat belts or risk attracting penalties.
[contextly_sidebar id=”TfagIsDm7KLuiafh3DypVGgCGPDECHvs”]According to the DVLA the implementation of the LI on the use of seatbelts was to achieve a 50 percent reduction in deaths and serious injuries associated with vehicle accidents by 2020.
This directive however has not been well received by many transport operators in the country.
Addressing a press conference in Accra, the Regional chairman, of the Greater Accra GPRTU, Robert Sarbarh questioned the motive of the DVLA accusing them of a “hidden agenda.”
He also outlined some factors that in their estimation could contribute to road accidents.
He said: “seat belts are not the only safeguards or panacea to road accident and the authorities should broaden their focus to cover other preventive measures. What of the bad roads, non availability of road markings, absence of streetlights, lack of good spare parts for use by drivers, unclear road signs.”
He also debunked assertion that the enforcement of the LI could achieve a 50 percent reduction in deaths by 2020 saying it was not backed by any scientific proof.
“It is pure fallacy intended to throw dust into the eyes of the general public and also win public sympathy so as to incite them against the GPRTU and other transport operators,” he added.
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By: Godwin Allotey Akweiteh/citifmonline.com/Ghana