Motorcycle, tricycle riders undergo training on road safety

Some selected motocycle and tricycle riders in Accra have undergone training on the importance of road safety, personal safety, traffic regulations and best practices for minimising vehicular and traffic accidents.

An initiative of a youth-led climate change and waste management advocacy group, the Green Africa Youth Organisation (GAYO), the one-day training programme, held at La-Dadekotopong Municipal Assembly in La-Accra, aimed to promote road safety and responsible riding practices,

The workshop, organised by GAYO in collaboration with KADA, a tricycle riders association, and attended by over 100 motorcycle and tricycle riders, covered a range of topics, including road safety tips, defensive driving techniques, and the importance of wearing protective gear.

It was facilitated by the Ghana Police Service, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), and the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC).

The participants were presented with certificates of participation after the session and equipped with the necessary information to also educate their peers.

Rationale

Speaking at the function, the Project Coordinator for GAYO in the Greater Accra Region, Mabel Naa Amorkor Laryea, said the workshop was necessitated by the growing concern over the increasing number of road accidents involving motorcycles and tricycles in the region.

She emphasised that although the “motorcycle and tricycle were more environmentally friendly with only 12 per cent emission of greenhouse gases through the fossil fuel released compared to the other four-wheel vehicles, it has contributed to more deaths hence”.  

Ms Layea added that the workshop would help the beneficiaries embrace the traffic regulations, and ride safely as one of the safest means of transportation and contributing to the emission of far lesser greenhouse gases to enhance air quality in the region.

She added that GAYO as part of its campaign would organise a ride event with electric vehicles to promote their use in order to reduce the air pollution contributed by fossil fuel from non-electric vehicles.

For his part, the Chief Executive Officer of KADA, Matthew Akambong, said the workshop was a welcome opportunity for the riders to access their knowledge and bridge the gaps in the knowledge.

He indicated that, most riders do not have license and lack the basic knowledge on road safety, safe riding and license acquisition; hence, the need to partner the programme with GAYO to help their members acquire knowledge and freshen up their capacity.

Concerns

Addressing the participants, the Director Research, Education and Training at the Police Motor Transport and Traffic Department (MTTD), Chief Superintendent Alexander Obeng emphasised the need for riders to be mindful of their speed, especially in urban areas.

"Speed is a major contributor to road accidents, and we urge all riders to be cautious and reduce their speed, especially in areas with heavy pedestrian traffic. Also, you must learn about the traffic regulations to ensure your safety, passengers and other pedestrians,” he stated.

He indicated that the Police would soon fully roll out a programme known as Police Invisible Eyes Are Watching (PIEAW) across the country which would check and capture road traffic offenders for appropriate penalty.  

"As an association, we have observed that many of our members are not aware of the basic traffic rules and regulations, which often leads to accidents," said Mr. Kwame Owusu, President of KADA.

For his part, the Manager of Training, Testing and Licensing Department of DVLA, John Asante Arhin, appealed to the “riders to ensure that their vehicles were properly registered and licensed, as this was a critical aspect of road safety".

He added that the DVLA had now implemented a mobile service which allowed DVLA officials to move to a particular location upon the request of an association or a client to train and take them through the license acquisition process.