Page 29 Monday January 12 2009
Some commercial drivers in the Accra Metropolis have attributed their inability to wear seats belt to the inconvenience associated with putting on the belt.
According to them, seat belts sometimes make them feel uncomfortable and tired, especially when there is heavy traffic.
?????In separate interviews in Accra, some drivers told the Daily Graphic that although they were uncomfortable when they wore seat belts while on long journeys, they felt safe and comfortable wearing them. ?????
A minibus driver, Kojo Boadi, said seat belts were so tight that he always felt like urinating any time he wore them.
“About a year ago, I was driving some church members to a funeral in Ho. I started the journey feeling very comfortable and relaxed. After driving for about 35 minutes I felt like urinating and by the time I got to Akosombo I had urinated my bladder out. I later realised it was the tightness of the that had caused me all that pain. What embarrassed me the most was that my passengers started complaining”, he said.
A Benz minibus driver who only gave his name as Fuseini said he quickly wore his seat belt whenever he saw a policeman, adding that he knew his actions were wrong but he always prayed that he would never be caught.
“I am appealing to the police to pardon us when we are found guilty of this offence. We know it is wrong not to wear seat belts but wearing it makes us so tired”, he said.
A taxi driver, Kwame Akuamoah, said “I used to were seat belts when I was working as a taxi driver in Techiman but I stopped when I came to Accra because I noticed that most commercial drivers in Accra were not wearing them. At first I was reluctant to break the law but as time went on I joined my colleagues in doing so”.
Asked why he chose to do what was against the law, he said “I will start wearing it very soon because I know the police do not spare drivers who are found guilty of this offence”.
An Opel Astra salon taxi driver who only gave his name as Nana, said he was not used to wearing seat belts until he was caught by the police.
He added that he did not try explaining anything to the police when he was caught because he knew he had broken the law.
Although some drivers complained about the inconveniences of seat belts, others said they could not drive without wearing them.
A taxi driver, Nana Acheampong, said seat belts were life-savers and recalled an accident he had some years ago and said had it not been the seat belt which he wore, he would have lost his life.
He appealed to the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service to continue with the education on the use of seat belts to prevent road accidents.
He also advised all drivers, both commercial and private, to note the importance of wearing seat belts.