Deputy Director of Planning and Programme at the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Daniel Wuaku, has revealed that the Authority and the Drivers Licensing Authority (DVLA) will collaborate to re-educate drivers on road safety.

Mr Wuaku indicated that education plays a vital role considering the challenges inherent in road safety compliance by drivers. He noted that once education is undertaken, the Authority is able to ascertain the risks involved in the “actions or the inactions” of drivers on the road.

“The National Road Safety Authority is continuing education… Education on the part of drivers is a bit low and that is the reason why the National Road Safety Authority and the DVLA is coming back with a structured programme to re-educate drivers across the country which is going to take off next month or the month after. Last week we had the final discussion on the modalities of enrolling drivers onto the programme to re-educate them.”
Daniel Wuaku

Mr Wuaku revealed that issues bordering on road traffic crashes is a concern for the NRSA as well as the authority responsible for the management of road safety in the country. He explained that the “production of road safety” in the country falls under different agencies in the country. For instance, he noted that issues of road safety education falls within the jurisdiction of the National Road Safety Authority whiles the Ghana Police Service MTTD handles issues of enforcement of road laws.

Enforcement of road safety regulations

Commenting on why it has proven difficult for laws regarding safety on roads to be enforced in the country, the NRSA’s Deputy Director of Planning and Programme stated that road safety problem in the country has a lot to do with human behaviour. He revealed that issues such as the “inappropriate speeding of mini buses on our highway, or the general over-speeding behaviour of drivers on our highways”, is purely a human behaviour problem posing threats to the enforcement of laws on road safety.

“Even though the enforcement is also there. We know that there are laws that govern the use of the roads, why then are we going against the law? So, compliance on the part of road users is very important…”
Daniel Wuaku

Mr Wuaku indicated that although it is the responsibility of the Police MTTD to enforce that law, the NRSA has received the mandate to implement it. However, he expressed that a legislative instrument (LI) is being developed to support the implementation of the Act, “which is at the parliament level and only waiting for it to be passed”. Once it is passed, Mr Wuaku noted that the LI is going to be implemented for the Authority to ensure enforcement of regulations.

“… Enforcement is very key and the enforcement responsibility falls on the MTTD of the Ghana Police Service. We know they also have their challenges though but all the same we also appeal to the Police MTTD to step up their enforcement bit. I know they are on the highway and they are doing their best within the challenges that they find themselves. I will only add that maybe we could just go a little bit further within the confinement that we find ourselves to ensure that enforcement is done.”
Daniel Wuaku