The Asunafo Municipal Police Command have began an exercise to arrest and prosecute commercial drivers below 25 years, Chief Superintendent Emmanuel Twumasi-Ankrah, Municipal Police Commander hinted on Wednesday.

He explained that it is an offence for a person below 25 years to drive commercial vehicle under the new road traffic regulation (LI 2180), adding that such offence could attract a jail term. Superintendent Twumasi-Ankrah made this known during the Brong-Ahafo Regional launching of the Yuletide road safety campaign, of the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) at Goaso in the Municipality.

He said the LI 2180 also compels all commercial drivers to join a union pointing out that those who fail to do so would be arrested and prosecuted. Chief Superintendent Twumasi-Ankrah entreated transport unions and organisations to open up to enable unregistered drivers to register to help bring sanity on the road. He said though road accident had seen slight decrease in the municipality this year, there is the need for the police to step up patrol, especially on the Goaso-Sunyani road to ensure that road crashes are brought under the barest minimum.

Chief Superintendent Twumasi-Ankrah stressed that with the onset of the harmattan, the weather would be foggy and warned drivers against over-speeding and unnecessary overtaking. Mr Agyabeng Mensah Abrampa, Regional Manager of the NRSC, explained that the campaign aimed at educating drivers on the LI 2180, as well as promoting best road safety practices for all categories of road users.

He said road accidents are very alarming in the region, disclosing that 196 people died through 503 road crashes recorded from January to October. Mr Abrampa said 732 vehicles were involved in the accidents which injured 690 people. He called on stakeholders and the public to support the road safety campaign to minimise crashes during and after the Christmas festivities.

Mr Abrampa appealed to the Municipal Assembly to form a municipal road safety committee to support the commission in road safety education. Alhaji Mohammed Doku, Municipal Chief Executive observed that over-speeding, professional incompetence, wrongful overtaking and lack of regular maintenance of vehicles are the causative agents of road accidents.

He advised the police to intensify patrols on the various highways and ensure that road traffic offenders are prosecuted. Alhaji Doku noted that the NRSC alone cannot shoulder the responsibility of road safety education and advised road users to play their part.