PREVENTING THE CARNAGE ON OUR ROADS (SEPT 25)

AN intended exercise to clamp down on cargo vehicles which have been converted into passenger cars by the Ministry of Transport should be supported by all commuters if the carnage on our roads is to be a thing of the past.
We demand support for this move because as a people we seem to be reactive instead of being proactive. Until a calamity or catastrophe hits the nation very hard, which leads to the loss of human lives and property, we are always in our sense of a deep slumber.
Even when our consciences are pricked to act, such actions do not go far enough to sustain the plans outlined.
Sometime in 2007, there were numerous accidents which claimed the lives of many of our people. Then we were told of a default in the brakes of the Mercedes Benz 207 bus, which is built as a cargo vehicle. But by the wisdom of certain Ghanaians such a vehicle is equally good as a passenger vehicle.
Frantic efforts were then made by the security agencies to seize such vehicles only after many people had been killed. What happened the day after? Obviously the action died a natural death.
Two years down the line, we are confronted with what to do with those engaged in this practice, especially at a time when more lives are being lost on our roads.
So the question is, how does a car produced for cargo gets registered to carry passengers? Officials at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) must answer why these vehicles are registered to carry passengers.
Is there no mechanism to make sure that cars are used solely for the purpose for which they are imported?
Until we begin to realise that our lives are precious and that we cannot afford to lose our human capital through our reckless actions and the greed of a few of our people and take steps to avert such mishaps, our roads will continue to claim lives and property.
The DAILY GRAPHIC supports the move by the Ministry of Transport to ban such vehicles on our roads. In doing so however, we should avoid the tendency to make this project yet another nine-day wonder.
We know that the ministry will face opposition from transport owners and associations who believe the policy will affect their businesses but we cannot sacrifice the lives of our people just because others want to make a living.
Any person who dies through such acts cannot be replaced.
The DAILY GRAPHIC thinks the move is a progressive one which the ministry must implement no matter who is affected because for far too long we have tolerated indiscipline and lawlessness on our roads.
We are tempted to say that there are many policy interventions and laws already in place to compel people to behave in a responsible way but enforcement has been lacking. The proposed ban can only make the desired impact, if the authorities enforce the laws.
For, our inaction today, will cost us more lives tomorrow.