An award scheme  to reward commercial vehicle stations and their drivers with zero or least road accidents each year has been instituted.

This was disclosed by Hon. Mike Hammah, the Transport Minister in Tamale at a meeting with union executives, car owners, drivers, passengers, pedestrians and other stakeholders in road safety, including, Mrs Dzifa Attivor, Deputy Transport Minister, officials from the National Road Safety Commission, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority and the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit of the Ghana Police Service as part of a three-day road safety campaign.

The Transport Ministry, in a statement in Accra stated that the award is designed to be the highlight of the annual road safety week observed by the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), under the auspices of the Ministry.   

He said very handsome rewards were being considered for the first three lorry stations to emerge the best in accident control throughout the country and that a committee was being put in place to handle the awards scheme which he said, would be similar to the national farmers day awards.   

Mr Hammah appealed to drivers and all others involved with road
transportation to exercise restraint as the country prepared for the Christmas and end of year activities.   

He attributed the carnage on the road to drunk driving, recklessness, excessive speeding and the non-compliance to road traffic regulations.   

Mr Hammah said just as the nation recognized the important role of the farmer in the sustenance of life, it was equally vital that the driver was also encouraged since they did not just transport the produce of the farmer but also human beings.   

He disclosed that the current campaign was part of the "Arrive Alive" road safety campaign launched by the Vice President, John Dramani Mahama, at Gomoa Assin Mampong in the Central Region in October this year.   

Mr Hammah said that the current campaign has so far taken him to Kintampo, Techiman and Kumasi where he was joined by the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Opoku Mainoo and the Deputy Regional Minister, Madam Anima Wilson to address the Kajetia lorry park operators, drivers and union executives.   

Ghanadistricts.com/DS