Rising motorbike accidents in Sunyani: Bono MTTD launches special operation.
The Bono Regional Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service has launched a special operation to curb lawless motorbike riders in the Sunyani Municipality and prevent unnecessary accidents.
The operation aimed at maintaining discipline, sanity and improving safety on the roads resulted in the impounding of several motorbikes, including tricycles popularly known as ‘Aboboyaa’, ‘Azonto’ and ‘Pragya’.
Offences
The offences that led to the seizure included suspected theft of motorbikes, riding unregistered or unlicensed motorbikes, riding without helmets, and using motorbikes with expired or no insurance.
The exercise, undertaken on the instructions of the Bono Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Joshua Copposon and backed by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, is to ensure riders comply with road traffic regulations.
They were impounded on the Abesim road, Penkwase traffic light, Fiapre Roundabout, Sunyani Technical University Roundabout, Sunyani Post Office and COCOBOD Roundabout, among other strategic locations in the municipality.
When the Daily Graphic visited the regional MTTD Command last Thursday, several impounded motorbikes were seen on the premises, with some owners going through documentation to prove ownership.
While the process was ongoing, the early-morning operations team also arrived with additional seized motorbikes for further action at the command.
Enforce compliance
The acting Regional MTTD Commander, Sergeant Ebenezer Anim Ofori, said the operation was not intended to punish riders but to educate them and enforce compliance with the law.
“We are doing this exercise to address the growing indiscipline among motorbike riders in our towns.
Some of them are riding without licences, some of the motorbikes are not properly registered and in certain cases, the bikes are suspected to be stolen,” he said.
Sgt Ofori explained that the operation would help identify such irregularities while encouraging riders to regularise their documentation.
He said many motorbikes, mainly ridden by Pragya riders, involved in accidents often lacked insurance or roadworthiness certificates.
When passengers are injured, they suffer greatly because there is no protection for them.
Sgt Ofori stressed that anyone riding a motorbike or tricycle must possess a valid riding licence and must wear a helmet at all times, adding that the law also requires pillion riders to wear helmets.
He explained that motorbikes were meant to carry only two people, the rider and one passenger.
“Unfortunately, we sometimes see riders carrying more than two people, including children and many of them without helmets.
That is very dangerous,” he said.
Caution
Sgt Ofori cautioned parents against carrying children on motorbikes without proper safety protection.
He also reminded the public that tricycles were designated for carrying goods and not passengers, emphasising that many people were using them to transport passengers as commercial vehicles.
“That is against the regulations and people must stop the practice,” he stressed.
Sgt Ofori warned drivers operating vehicles without permanent registration plates, explaining that vehicles without standard number plates were not permitted to be driven on public roads.
He said those who had registered their vehicles and were waiting for their number plates could not use them until the plates were issued.
Unauthorised sirens
Sgt Ofori also cautioned motorists against using unauthorised sirens and strobe lights on private vehicles, noting that only security agencies and certain approved institutions, such as banks, were permitted to use them.
“We see private individuals installing sirens and strobe lights in their vehicles.
That is illegal and they must stop because we will take action against them,” he warned.
Sgt Ofori explained that although offenders apprehended during the current operation might initially be cautioned, stricter enforcement measures would follow in subsequent exercises.
“For now, we are cautioning many of them to correct their mistakes.
But after this exercise, anyone caught violating the law will be prosecuted in court,” he said.
He,therefore, urged motorists and motorbike riders to comply with road traffic regulations to avoid sanctions.
“We have laws in this country and people cannot simply do things their own way.
This exercise is to make everyone aware that the law must be respected,” he added.
