220 Tricycle Riders Nabbed
The Ashanti Regional Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) has revealed that 220 tricycles riders were arrested on the first day of the operation to instill discipline on Ashanti roads.
The special operation comes after the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council announced it was up to enforce regulations governing tricycles in the Region from the beginning of September.
In 2021, out of the 357 road accident deaths recorded, 104 died in tricyle and motor accidents in the Ashanti Region, 3news reported.
The tricycle and motor regulation include; prohibition of minors ridding tricycles, ridding without license, ridding on the shoulders of the road, ridding without helmets, ridding in between lanes, disregarding traffic lights, overloading tricycles and taking passengers in the front seat of tricycles.
At a meeting with tricycle riders on September 2, 2021, Superintendent Emmanuel Adu Boahen said the decision to clamp down on the riders is meant to reduce the rate of road accidents.
“We have arrested 220 tricycle and we will continue to arrest. We don’t take delight in arrests; neither do the authorities but we want to bring sanity on our roads”, Superintendent Adu Boahen said.
He added that the rampant road accidents in the region scare away potential investors.
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) urged the riders to resign themselves to the regulations despite the fact that tricycle has not been approved in the country.
Spokesperson for DVLA, Mr. Promise Sam Abu noted that his outfit will not frustrate the riders with bureaucracy in getting license.
Vice Chairman for Pragyea Adedeta Union Association, a tricycle riders association in the Ashanti region, Mr. Owusu Bempah conceded irresponsible riders contributes to road accidents.
“We are with the authorities, we will caution our members to desist from ridding in between lanes, overloading, and using the shoulders of the road. We will leave a good name for ourselves in the Region”, Mr. Bempah promised.
Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini
