Political parties asked to refrain from using tipper trucks to convey activists to rallies

Mr Emmanuel Narh, Brong-Ahafo Regional Director of Driver Vehicle and Licensing Authority (DVLA), has asked political parties to refrain from using tipper trucks and pickups to convey activists to campaign rallies.

He said road crashes involving such vehicles were fatal and efforts should be made to avoid them.

Mr Narh made the call at a road safety campaign organised jointly by the DVLA and Brong-Ahafo Regional Road Safety Commission to promote awareness for peaceful Election 2012 and political tolerance during coming elections.

He said the appropriate vehicles to be used for such rallies should be buses and not overloaded trucks.

Mr Narh urged the public to help minimise road crashes during the campaign and the Yuletide because about 1,800 die annually from road crashes with four people dying daily.

He said as 42 per cent of the deaths involved children, drivers should slow down especially in the morning and afternoon when school children were crossing the road to and after school.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Teddy Damptey Brown, Brong Ahafo Regional Commander of Motor Transport and Traffic Unit (MTTU), advised drivers not to engage passengers in political discussions while driving but concentrate on the road.

He urged drivers to obey road regulations and ensure the road was clear before overtaking other vehicles and avoid speeding to save lives and property.

Mr Ben Kusi, Brong-Ahafo Regional Chairman of Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), said during festivities drivers sought to make more journeys because of the many passengers travelling to their hometowns and appealed to drivers to exercise patience conveying passengers to their various destinations.

Mr Kwasi Oppong-Ababio, Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive, appealed to the public to respect and tolerate each other to ensure that the citizenry stayed together after the elections.

Source: GNA