The Chairman of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) for the Accra-Kaneshie-Cape Coast-Takoradi Station, has asserted that drivers who obtain their license from driving schools after the completion of their driving lessons are the ones who cause accidents the more.
According to Mr John Kwasi Ansah, such drivers who pass out of driving schools don’t have a lot of experience, urging that these drivers need to go through another type of driving instruction.
He made the remarks while speaking with a reporter about his driving history and the recent increase in accidents around the nation.
Mr Ansah said, “I was born at Mamprobi Polyclinic in Accra here in 19, but I hail from Assin Adwuneasi in the Assin Central Municipality of the Central Region”.
“I attended School at Mataheko 2 Primary School. My uncle whom I was living with was into transport. He had these Neoplan buses, so we all decided to join from 1982 to 1984. I started as conductor [mate], and I was a mate for three years, and between 1986 and 1987, I decided to learn driving”.
The Chairman explained that “I started driving in the year 1988. I started with a Neoplan bus which was carrying 70 passengers to Accra and Cape Coast, Accra and Sunyani”, among others.
“Anytime you drive, you gain experience. It’s not one day”.
Mr Ansah said, “there are differences in learning driving. Driving schools train drivers for just four months, and they are on the road. Some also learn at washing bays, but if you want to be a commercial where you would want to drive for long hours and long journey, you have to work with someone for over a year after your training with the driving schools”.
“Now they say driving school, and the majority of accidents are caused by drivers who were trained by the driving school.” The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) office does not respect us [commercial drivers], but we need to form a group that will take drivers who have been trained by driving schools on long journeys because there have been several accidents.”
The GPRTU Chairman noted that some causes of road accidents are avoidable, but drivers are involved in accidents due to a lack of training.
“Speeding also contributes to accidents.” A gust of wind while driving can cause an accident. There is wind on the Densu stretch of the Kasoa Highway…Tema Motorway…Takoradi Junction…Apam Junction and others can cause an accident because when you speed around these places, the car turns into the air, and if they collide, it can cause an accident. The natural wind, not the spiritual wind.”
Mr Ansah said, “we [GPRTU Accra-Takoradi Station] dot take new drivers here. We take drivers who are old with us…those who have the experience to be our drivers”.
“Some drivers can park their cars in Accra or Takoradi, pick a different car to Accra or Takoradi, and that driver will tell us all your mistakes. Our drivers have far more experience than those who go to driving school
Source: GhPage
