Mr Paul Kofi Assan, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Peace Transport Services, has appealed to the Government and relevant transport agencies to reconsider the decision to ban Toyota Voxy buses from long-distance travel.
Mr Assan said the restriction would render many professional drivers, particularly the youth, unemployed, with dire consequences for their dependants.
He noted that since its inception, Peace Transport Services had continuously trained its drivers, equipping them with additional skills and technical know-how to ensure the safe conveyance of passengers.
Speaking to the media in an interview at Agona Swedru on the proposed ban announced by the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Mr Assan said that although the Authority might have good intentions, the decision could worsen challenges within the transport industry.
He explained that as part of measures to ensure safety, the Swedru-based transport company had installed tracking devices on all its buses to strictly monitor the activities of its over 500 drivers, particularly to curb over-speeding and enhance passenger safety.
Mr Assan added that management had also created avenues for passengers to report drivers who engaged in misconduct or over-speeding, stressing that all these measures were aimed at ensuring road safety.
He said officers had been deployed at lorry stations to educate drivers against over-speeding, wrongful overtaking, careless driving, alcoholism and the use of hard drugs before embarking on their journeys.
According to him, the daily education programme was intended to reduce road accidents and other unfortunate incidents.
Mr Assan noted that although accidents could occur in any transport organisation, continuous sensitisation of drivers on road regulations remained crucial.
The CEO said the company contributed significantly to national development through employment creation for the youth, payment of road tolls and taxes to Assemblies and the Government for road construction, hospitals and other infrastructure.
Some drivers who spoke to the media also appealed to the Government to rethink the ban, explaining that Peace Transport Services had strict criteria for the engagement of drivers.
They said driving was their sole source of livelihood and described the proposed ban as devastating if implemented.
“We have been well trained and have the capacity to drive long distances safely. We are also very careful on the road,” the drivers said.
GNA
