Our Moped Menace
Our roads are unsafe because we have trotro and taxi drivers who stop in the middle of the road to pick up their passengers, turn off roads without using their trafficators and who over-speed in overloaded and poorly-maintained vehicles. While this is hard fact, there’s another menace on our roads – cyclists and motorcyclists... the mopeds who are a menace on our roads.
I don’t know who told cyclists and motorcyclists that they are not affected by traffic lights and traffic regulations that other motorists observe. Motorcyclists think they can jump red lights and weave in and out of cars, often, without crash helmets because they’re so special. I don’t blame them, because even when they jump red lights at intersections manned by the police, they don’t get pulled over. I’ve had one or two near misses in the last few months and frankly, they were pretty hair-raising experiences.
Some cyclists refuse to use the bicycle lanes assigned to them on some roads, such as the Legon – Tetteh Quarshie road, and instead, weave in and out of the lanes in which motorists drive at full speed.
I have only one half of the solution to this problem: since motorcyclists have to register their bikes and get licences, they must also be taught road traffic regulations and road signs and be tested when they renew their licenses. The police must pull them over and penalise them for breaking road traffic regulations, instead of allowing them to jump red lights with impunity.
Next question is what do we do about the bicycle riders?
This is very important and urgent, so MTTU, over to you!
Hmm, I think we all know the simplest solution to this menace, right? Get the Ghana police force off the roads, recruit Rawlings type of men who will be brutal to these idiotic riders and drivers causing vehicular fatalities on the road and maybe things will change. But honestly, I believe that what we are seeing is a major characteristic of any country which has loose law enforcement. Ghana will only see the face of development if and only if it strengthen its law enforcement system, otherwise forget it.
ReplyDeletethis is a good opportunity for the government to raise some funds in the sense that they should establish some rules and regulations ( if not already) and make sure they are enforced. Anytime someone violates the rule he gets fined. but of course all this should come after a campaign educating people about ways of protecting themselves and others while driving, to remind them that driving is a privilege which can be taken away from them if not used correctly. You warn them first then you act firmly; you will see they will start respecting the rules
ReplyDeleteAurelie