Passengers on board a Toyota Hiace car with registration number WR 1481 – 17 on Saturday, February 8, 2020 caused the arrest of an errant driver of a Mercedes Sprinter bus on the Cape Coast-Takoradi Highway for reckless driving.
Narrating events leading to the arrest of the driver, Western Region Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Department of the Ghana Police Service, Chief Superintendent Richard Appiah said the driver of the Sprinter bus with registration number Gt 3601 – 17 Ahmed Alidu, aged 35 years left Kaneshie for Takoradi loaded with passengers and other items.
The Toyota Hiace car had also loaded from Cape Coast to Takoradi.
Chief Superintendent Appiah said, according to the passengers on board the Toyota Hiace, the Sprinter bus came to overtake them dangerously and nearly hit their car.
“The sprinter bus came to overtake them with top speed and nearly rammed into their car while doing it. They reported that ahead of them they could see the driver driving recklessly. That, Alidu was overtaking from all sides of the road and driving with top speed even on the shoulders of the road”.
The police commander said the driver of the Toyota Hiace, Ibrahim Mohammed reported that Alidu continued to drive with careless abandon.
“According to the passengers of the Toyota Hiace, they saw Alidu do successive and dangerous overtaking ahead of them one of which nearly resulted in a head–on collision with a truck. They reported that the driver did the overtaking at Dominase, Daboase and Asamasa”. It was the one he did at Asamasa that nearly resulted in the accident”.
He added, “So, when they got to the Inchaban Police Barrier, the passengers on the Toyota Hiace quickly reported Alidu to the officers at post. Alidu was arrested and his vehicle impounded and brought to our office in Sekondi”. Alidu admitted to driving recklessly in his statement. We have processed him for court on Monday, February 10, 2020”.
Chief Superintendent Appiah appealed to passengers not to hesitate to report any driver who drives with careless abandon.
“The accidents that are happening are very troubling. If you look at some of them, you realize that they could have been avoided easily. So, if you are a passenger you have to play your role. Never be afraid to speak politely to a driver who may be over speeding or overtaking dangerously. If he does not listen, report him immediately you get to the next police barrier. That action can save your life and that of several others”.
Accidents in January
A total of fifteen (15) persons died and over one hundred persons sustained various degree of injuries in road accidents in January in the Western Region.
Chief Superintendent Richard Appiah revealed that out of the 15 deaths recorded, 8 of them involved motorbikes.
“Most of the motor riders did not adhere to safety precautions on the road. We will continue to appeal to road users to be very careful while on the road. For motor riders it is important that they wear their helmets. We will still be on the look out for persons who violate road regulations, arrest and prosecute them”.