DEAL WITH THE HUMPS, MTTU (JAN 7, 2011)

THERE is a growing phenomenon on many highways in the country — the emergence of unauthorised speed humps everywhere.
Individuals and groups in some communities have arrogated to themselves the power to erect speed humps on major roads. These humps come in various forms. They could be heaps of sand stretched across the street or, in a more bizarre manner, streets are dug up deep to slow drivers from speeding in the communities.
While the DAILY GRAPHIC acknowledges the concern of such communities in ensuring that drivers observe speed limits in towns and cities, it does not endorse the illegal construction of speed humps on especially the highways of the country.
The DAILY GRAPHIC recalls an incident at Apegusu on the Atimpoku-Ho highway where unauthorised speed humps have caused accidents which have led to the loss of lives on the road.
The construction of speed humps is done by the required state institutions, such as the Ghana Highways Authority, and that work goes with certain standards, as required by law.
Again, drivers and pedestrians alike are cautioned over speed humps ahead through road signs.
The DAILY GRAPHIC thinks the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service must take action on this illegality on our roads to stem this development, which is gaining ground on many major roads in the country.
It cannot be that individuals and communities become law unto themselves and determine what should be done on the roads.
It is also equally important that drivers observe road signs. It is disheartening that drivers tend to speed beyond the 50 kilometres per hour limit that is required by law when driving through communities on the country’s highways.
Such recklessness has led to some unfortunate deaths in some of these communities, thereby giving some justification for individuals and communities to take the law into their hands by erecting speed humps.
That is why the DAILY GRAPHIC calls on the MTTU to, as a matter of urgency, devise strategies that will ensure that drivers observe road signs in communities, so that nobody is forced to do things contrary to the laws of the land.
We are happy that in his interaction with the management of the Graphic Communications Group Limited last Wednesday, the new Commander of the MTTU, Mr Angwubutoge Awuni, pledged the preparedness of the unit to crack down on reckless and irresponsible driving and the use of roads for funerals and other social events.
As he clearly pointed out, “Ignorance of the law is no excuse and the MTTU is willing to fight offenders with harsh penalties”.
The DAILY GRAPHIC trusts in the ability of the new MTTU Commander to deliver, as he has shown, in all earnest, to be on top of his job and we, therefore, urge the media and other stakeholders to extend a hand of partnership to the MTTU to make our roads safe, both for drivers and pedestrians.
Drivers, individuals and communities have a civic duty to be law-abiding and ensure the safety of passengers and other road users at all times. Anything short of that will lead to grave consequences and the MTTU cannot compromise on that.