The Ashanti Regional Motto Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) have apprehended 527 drivers for flouting various motor traffic regulations in a period of three months.
Led by the Deputy Regional Commander, ACP Kwasi Mensah Duku, the police rounded up 116 private and commercial vehicles on the Kumasi-Offinso road on Friday for breaking various traffic rules.
Since October 2010 when the police started the commendable exercise to curb road accidents, 411 out of the arrested motorists have been prosecuted. The offending drivers that were picked up on Friday would soon be arraigned before court to face appropriate punitive measures to serve as deterrent to other road users.
Their offences range from driving without license, overloading of vehicles contrary to Regulation 40 of RTR LI 952, 1974 and obscured number plate contrary to Section 44 Act 682, 2004.
Some of them were also nabbed for driving without license contrary to Section 53 of Act 761 2008; over-speeding and driving without securing containers on flat body of vehicles contrary to Regulation 15 of LI. 952, 1974; among others.
Some of the drivers, who were arrested on Friday, pleaded with the police to give them adequate time to produce their driving licenses and other documents which were not readily available and the police agreed.
The exercise has become necessary in view of the spate of road accidents and resultant fatalities. The police administration believes that the situation is as a result of indiscipline on the roads.
ACP Duku, in an interview with Daily Guide, advised police personnel to act professionally on the roads and eschew acts that are likely to drag the name of the service into disrepute.
He cautioned that any officer who fails to enforce the law as required, would face disciplinary action and charged personnel to be present on the roads and enforce road traffic regulations since it is the duty of the police to protect life and property. He noted that the Regional Command was poised to ensure sanity on the roads and maintained that the conduct of police personnel on the roads was key to the attainment of this objective.
ACP Duku admonished motorists to desisit from indiscipline acts and ensure that they abide by the dictates of the road traffic regulations to avoid trouble.
He said the police do not take delight in arresting and prosecuting motorists, adding, “it is necessary for motorists to be law abiding at all times and don’t do the right thing only when police are around.” He noted that the exercise, would not be a nine-day wonder, stating that the police enforce the laws to reduce road accidents and entreated motorists to assist police to curb road accidents in the country.