The Northern Regional Road Safety Commission (NRSC) has awarded some deserving transport unions for their services in transporting passengers to their destinations over the years.
The deserving transport unions were awarded in recognition of their role in mininmizing if not eliminating the cause of road crashes especially, during Christmas seasons with its resultant casualties on the roads.
This year’s regional awards brought together four transport unions including Ghana private road transport union, Metro mass transit, imperial transport limited and State Transport Corporation (STC).
Speaking at the ceremony at the Tamale main Bus stop, the northern regional manager of Road safety commission, Alexander Ayatah called for the change of attitudes towards safety in our lives.
Whereas the majority of communing is done through commercial drivers, information, education and attitudinal change is expedited by the media.
On the incident of road crashes in the country, Mr Alexander said statistics in the region is not encouraging.
National: killed injury vehicle
2013 2012 20 13 2012 2013 2012
1538 1713 9741 104472 16048 16242
Northern region; 119 52 541 142 268 194
The northern regional manager said the number of vehicles involved in road crashes is on the increase and urged transport unions in the region to try their best to reverse the trend. It is estimated six persons die daily while about 2000 persons killed annually. Mr Alex Ayatah stated that northern region is becoming one of the highly recorded regions of fatalities.
The quality of drivers was also brought to bear culminating to about 50%of drivers without knowing required of tyres. Second hand tyre and safety Mr Alex said are serious concern to NRSC. This unfortunate situation he added has compelled the commission to embark on training on the use of sub-standard tyres which cause about 30% of crashes on the road.
The situation he said need urgent attention especially, from the opinion leaders, Imams, Pastors, politicians and most especially all the transport owners and drivers to rise up to the occasion of reversing this dangerous killing and injuries.
The State Transport Corporation in the northern region was adjudged the best performing transport union followed by Imperial transport limited while metro mass transit limited came third and the 4th runner up went to G.P.R.T.U.