About 230 commercial tricycle riders in the Ashanti region have been arrested and their machines impounded by the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD).

They are expected to be put before court for various traffic offences, including ridding in the middle and on the shoulders of roads, unauthorised parking and causing danger to other road users, riding without a license and using the tricycles for commercial purposes.

Suame MTTD leads in the arrests, with 45 tricycles, followed by the Central MTTD (37), Mamponteng (28), Manhyia (24), KNUST (23) and Asokwa (23). Other arrests were recorded at Abuakwa, Airport and Ejisu.

Motorists and other road users have been forced to accept the unruly attitude of commercial tricycle riders, popularly known as ‘Pragya’, who operate without recourse to road traffic regulations.

According to authorities, their activities are inimical and pose a danger to themselves but have often resulted in road traffic crashes, leading to deaths and severe head injuries.

Regional MTTD Commander, Chief Superintendent Emmanuel Adu Boahene, says the arrests form part of a campaign to rid the roads of nuisance associated with what has become known as the ‘Pragya’ menace.

“The operation continues until there is discipline on our roads,” he told JoyNews.

“The indiscipline is becoming too much, and we have to sanitise our roads to save lives,” he added.

Some road safety campaigners and concerned motorists have lauded the police action.

Whilst asking police to sustain the exercise, some worried motorists say it’s been long overdue.

“We have allowed the Pragya riders to flout road traffic regulations for far too long. It’s like we live in hell because there are no rules and regulations,” says Osei Yeboah, a resident of Ejisu, where a similar exercise saw the arrest of four riders.

“It is a good exercise, but I think how to sustain it is the issue. Unfortunately, our law enforcers are not consistent regarding issues like this. I won’t be surprised this ends up as a 9-day wonder thing,” a motorist who pleaded anonymity said.