The Director-General of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Abraham Amaliba, has disclosed that Cabinet has directed Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and heads of state institutions to stop using sirens on their vehicles.
According to him, a Cabinet memorandum has been circulated to the heads of the various institutions, instructing them to discontinue the practice.
Speaking on the issue in the wake of the implementation of Traffitech initiative, Amaliba challenged anyone with evidence of a government CEO flouting the directive to provide it, expressing confidence that President John Dramani Mahama, would take action against any offender.
He, however, noted that the use of unauthorised sirens was not limited to government officials, as some private individuals also fitted their vehicles with them.
He said the Ministry of the Interior had consequently instructed the police, particularly the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), to stop vehicles that do not fall within the legally permitted categories and remove the unauthorised sirens.
Amaliba said the police had already intercepted several vehicles and removed such devices as part of efforts to enforce the regulations.
On broader road safety measures, the NRSA Director-General said the Authority had written to the relevant road agencies, including Urban Roads and the Ministry responsible for Highways, requesting road markings and speed-limit signs to improve compliance and safety.
He explained that the law empowers the relevant authorities to take offenders to court if they fail to comply with directives, even after receiving compliance notices.
Amaliba also expressed satisfaction with what he described as a growing awareness among motorists in Accra of the need to reduce their speed.
He said the Authority was encouraged by changes in driving behaviour and would continue to work with relevant institutions to improve road safety.
He further disclosed that the NRSA’s speed management team was expected to meet to review ongoing measures, including the President’s directive on installing signs to alert motorists to the presence of speed cameras.
The meeting, he said, would also consider whether speed limits could be reviewed during late-night hours on certain roads, particularly dangerous stretches where motorists travelling at very low speeds could be vulnerable to attacks.
He suggested that the team could consider a period between about 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. or 5 a.m., after which the normal speed restrictions would resume.
Amaliba stressed that the proposal was only a matter for discussion and would require careful consideration by the relevant authorities.
He also highlighted the importance of transferring vehicle ownership records at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), warning that failure to complete the process could create difficulties in identifying and contacting the actual owners of vehicles.
He urged motorists who had sold their vehicles to ensure that ownership transfers were properly completed, stressing that the process was a responsibility that should not be ignored.
By Gifty Boateng