Assistant Commissioner of Police Alex Isaac Quainoo, Deputy Brong-Ahafo Regional Police Commander, at the weekend warned that any driver caught for careless driving would be made to face the full rigours of the law.
ACP Quainoo gave the warning when he addressed drivers, sellers and buyers at Nana Bosoma Central Market in Sunyani after the Regional Road Safety Committee embarked on a road safety walk in the municipality.
The three-hour walk was part of activities lined-up for the regional celebration of the road safety week.
Participants included school children, institutional heads and staff,
as well as some drivers and transport unions.
ACP Quainoo noted that as Christmas approached, there was the need to
ensure that road accidents were reduced to the barest minimum to save lives.
The Deputy Regional Commander explained that ensuring safety on roads was a collective responsibility and the police were determined to engage all stakeholders in the fight against crime and the spate of accidents.
ACP Quainoo advised drivers to observe road signs and observe maintenance practice to avoid accidents.
Mr. Daniel Wuaku, Regional Manager of National Road Safety Commission, said from January to September this year, 1,066 accidents that recorded 138 deaths and 858 injuries were recorded in the region.
It is against this background that the regional office of the Commission, in collaboration with the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit and the Driver Vehicle and Licensing Authority (DVLA), have intensified
educational activities to ensure safety on our roads, the regional manager added.
He added: "the regional office of the NRSC has also opened offices at Duayaw-Nkwanta, Techiman, Wenchi, Atebubu and Kintampo to bring road safety to the door steps of the people at the local level".
Mr. Wuaku said the Commission had instituted the National Road Safety Awards Scheme as one of strategies to promote safe driving and the use of
roads in the country.
"This is a scheme for transport unions and organisations with the aim of celebrating professionalism in the industry while at the same time reducing road accidents", he explained.
In a maiden edition of the scheme, Mr. Wuaku said five transport unions and organisations, made of Inter State Transport Company (ISTC), Metro Mass Transit, O.A Travel and Tours, Ghana Private Road Transport Union and Progressive Road Transport Association were selected to participate.
He said the transport unions and organisations were evaluated by a select committee drawn from the Commission, Ghana National Fire Service, DVLA, MTTU and the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) as well as other road
users.
Mr. Wuaku later presented prizes to the transport unions and organisations which excelled in the national awards.
In Brong-Ahafo, the Sunyani main office of the Metro Mass Transit was adjudged best transport organisation and received a 36-inch flat screen colour television, a DVD player, road safety books and a certificate followed by the Sunyani main branch of the GPRTU who took home a 26-inch flat screen television, DVD player, road safety books and a certificate.
The third prize went to Sunyani office of the ISTC and received DVD player, 22-inch colour television, certificate and road safety books.
PROTOA and O.A Travel and Tours had the fourth and fifth positions respectively and received certificates and road safety books as prizes.