The Ghana Standard Board (GSB) and Road Safety Limited (RSL) have launched a one billion cedi vehicle testing equipment in Tema to ensure vehicle road worthiness and decrease the accident rate in the country. The equipment includes Roller Brake Testing machine, Exhaust Gas Analyzer, Diagnostic Unit and Light Beam Checker. Mr Michael Dedey, General Manager of the RSL said for a thorough check of vehicles, the Brake Testing machine is used to check the brake effectiveness, while the Exhaust Gas Analyzer measures the acceptability of gas being giving out by the vehicle. He said Diagnostic Unit is used in detecting electronic faults on the vehicle while the Light Beam Checker is used to control the lights to an acceptable angle. Mr Dedey noted that the Brake Tester and Exhaust Gas Analyzer could provide a scientific basis for workshops and vehicle owners in evaluating the quality of work done. "The facility provides an opportunity for some quick and scientific evaluation of conditions of vehicles before sale or purchase" he indicated. He added that it would also provide an opportunity for vehicle owners to seek lower insurance premiums if their vehicles are subjected to such critical inspections and tests regularly. Mr Dedey indicated that the facility would not only reduce road accidents but also improve fleet management and reduce disputes based on unscientific evidence during accident investigations. The Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and Presidential Special Initiatives, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, said the installation of the equipment, which was completed on January 23, 2007 was in line with the government's strategic objectives for road safety which aimed at a concrete sustainable accident reduction by the year 2010. He said in 1999, the country obtained a credit facility from the International Development Agency (IDA) to support the Private Enterprises and Privatisation Technical Assistance (PEPTA) project which was initiated at the GSB adding that, one of the outputs of the project was upgrading GSB's laboratories. Mr Asiedu said one of the areas identified to build capacity at GSB was to equip it with a vehicle testing equipment, which was made possible in collaboration with the RSL and support of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA). He urged the GSB, RSL, National Road Safety Commission (NRSC), DVLA, Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) and other stakeholders to intensify the marketing and promotion of the testing services. Source: GNA