Nineteen drivers fined for traffic offences

Nineteen drivers in the Asante-Mampong municipality have been convicted to pay a total fine of GH¢2, 742.00 for flouting various road traffic offences.

The offences included driving without insurance cover, drunk driving, inconsiderate driving, speeding, overloading and failing to stop when signalled to do so by the police, among others.

In all, 30 traffic offences were recorded in December, 2013 alone out of which 19 were taken to court.

 In the year, 2012, 18 drivers were sentenced to pay a fine of GH¢1, 982.00 for committing similar offences and a total of 20 cases were reported.

Motor Traffic accidents

According to the Mampong Divisional Commander of the Mottor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), Superintendent Cosmos Damoah, a total of 18 people were killed and 126 sustained various degree of injuries out of a total of 76 accidents recorded within the year.

Supt Damoah said that in 2012 18 died, 142 were injured  in 71 recorded accidents.

Addressing the 2013 annual general meeting (AGM) of the Mampong Co-operative Transport Society Limited, Supt Damoah indicated that more people relied on road transport for their various business transactions and adding that the government also derived revenue from those engagements through taxes for development in the country.

He expressed regret that a total of 2000 people died through road traffic accidents every year and added that the new Motor Traffic Act, was, therefore, designed to protect drivers and other road users.

Advice to drivers

The police officer advised that, it was very significant that, anyone who wanted to operate transport business ought to belong to an association before he or she would be allowed to do so.

He further explained that as a measure by the authorities to protect the lives of the travelling public, drivers were enjoined to obtain a commercial driving permit in addition to their driving licences before they could ply the road.

Mr S.O. Frimpong, the president of the society, who retained his position in an election at the meeting, observed that, the transport business had now become very competitive and so there was the need for members to be disciplined and law abiding in order to attract passengers.