Chief Superintendent of Police John Ferguson Dzineku, the Nkoranza Divisional Police Commander gave the advice when he was addressing 30 owners and riders of commercial tricycles at a meeting on Wednesday at Nkoranza in the Nkoranza South Municipality of Brong-Ahafo Region. 

He urged them to ensure that the tricycles, either for commercial or private use, were registered by the Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to make them road-worthy.

Chief Supt. Dzineku emphasised the need for all vehicles to be covered by the necessary documents, saying besides that, drivers and riders must have obtained valid drivers’ license from the DVLA to qualify to operate as such.

The meeting was held at the behest of the Divisional Police Command following observations in addition to other concerns that tricycles were being used commercially in the Nkoranza town with some of the riders being under-aged and they again did not possess drivers’ license.

Chief Supt. Dzineku urged tricycle owners and riders to strictly abide by the road traffic rules and regulations since any violation of the road safety laws was an offence that warranted an arrest and prosecution at the law Court to attract a fine or jail term.

He cautioned drivers and riders against driving or riding under the influence of alcohol and hard drugs such as Tramadol or ‘Wee’ (Marijuana) and stressed those victims of such offence would be dealt with according to law.

Chief Supt. Dzineku advised drivers to desist from over loading and also insisted that both motorbike riders and pillion riders wore protective helmets to guard against injuries in the event of a crash.

Chief Supt. Dzineku expressed concern about recent reported cases of tricycles theft in Nkoranza and suggested that the owners must do criminal record checks about the trustworthiness or otherwise of prospective riders through the Police and opinion leaders in the communities before any offer of employment.