NRSA gets tough on intercity transport operators …imposes GH¢60,000 penalty for failure to deploy 2 drivers, use log book

Intercity transport operators who fail to use vehicle log books and deploy two drivers for trips exceeding eight hours or 500 kilometers will pay an administrative penalty of at least GHC60,000.

The imposition of penalty forms part of measures by the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) to intensify enforcement of the directive aimed at minimising the risk of driver fatigue, which mostly leads to fatal road crashes.

This was contained in a Regulatory Notice issued by the Authority in Accra on Thursday.

It further warned vehicle owners or transport operators against the use of unprescribed lamps and reckless driver behaviour.

To ensure compliance with the road safety protocols, the Notice said Road Safety Inspectors would from December 5, increase their presence at major transport terminals to inspect the use of logbooks.

The Authority, it noted, would collaborate with the Motor Transport and Traffic Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service to enforce the directives at major highway checkpoints across the country.

Explaining the Notice further, Director of Regulations, Inspections and Compliance, Kwame Koduah Atuahene, explained that the, move was to scale up enforcement actions ahead of the busy festive season.

“Driving beyond permissible hours poses such a huge risk to road users and cannot be overlooked any further.

In addition to the terminal and highway enforcement actions, there will be several mystery passengers joining trips to observe the quality of driving during the season,” he stated.

He emphasised that the exercise was targeted at transport companies, unions and institutions.

“They ought to exercise control over the drivers, and if they fail, they may have to pay for the disobedience of the drivers and third-party owners working under their brand name,” Mr Atuahene added.

The NRSA, he said, per its mandate, was working to reduce road traffic crashes through enforcement and implementation of road safety standards while ensuring that institutions providing road safety-related services comply with standards to minimise road traffic crashes, injuries and deaths.

Mr Atuahene noted that, this year, there had been a relative improvement in road traffic crashes, injuries and deaths adding that the enforcement action forms part of a broader programme to sustain the gains ahead of the busy season.

“Provisional statistics available to Authority indicate that, the number of crashes reported, injuries and deaths from January to October 2022 has reduced by 6.61 per cent, 0.33 per cent and 18.18 per cent over the same period of 2021,” he stated.

In March 2021, the Authority issued a regulatory directive to all intercity operators on trips exceeding eight hours or 500km to use vehicle log books and deploy two drivers, among others, to minimise the risk of driver fatigue.

BY CLAUDE NYARKO ADAMS