The bid to ensure safe practices by commercial drivers has engineered an annual training by the Transport Department of the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) to sensitize executives of Transport Operators, with the view to educate and supervise their drivers to uphold safe driving techniques in their day-to-day activities to save lives and properties. Addressing the opening of this year's training, the Acting Transport Officer of the Assembly, Ms. Vivian Aborah, indicated that the training would focus on stress management, adding that her outfit has partnered with the Road Safety Commission, Motor Transport and Traffic Department (MTTD) of Ghana Police and the GLICO Insurance to facilitate the training. An Assistant Director who spoke on behalf of the Metro Co-ordinating Director, Mr. Francis Ehwi Armah, noted that every driver wishes to arrive at his final destination safely, indicating that some accidents are avoidable. He added that such training, accords transport operators the opportunity to uphold safety in their work.

Mr. Armah hinted that adequate rest is important in managing stress and admonished drivers to learn the culture of resting to regain their full strength before embarking on journeys to save the lives of their passengers. He admonished the participants to share what they would learn at the training with their members on their return to their respective branches and terminals. The Regional Director of the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), Superintendent Isaac Kumnipah, noted that life and properties are essential commodities to be protected. He added that life is irreplaceable, and the impacts of a life lost through motor accidents on families and the nation are irreparable.

He took the participants through road traffic directions and mentioned possible causes of road accidents, such as drunkenness and tiredness, among other vices. He prevailed upon drivers to always abide by the speed limits and other driving regulations to save lives, adding that “when drivers take precautions and work well, doctors and mechanics will have minimum work to do”. Mr. Kumnipah further revealed that vehicles carrying explosives and fuel tankers have been added to the list to be given way and advised drivers to take note to forestall eventualities such as the accident that recently occurred at Apeatse in the Prestea Huni Valley Municipality. For his part, the Regional Road Safety Director, Mr. Victor Bilson, took participants through fatigue and road safety, inattention and road safety, occupational stress and road safety.

He pointed out that most road accidents that result in deaths occur on engineered roads and therefore admonished drivers to ply cautiously on such roads, as good roads are constructed to make ease travels and not to take lives. He further noted that human behaviours such as failure t wear seatbelts, crash helmets, and driving at excessive speed contribute to most accidents and reiterated the need to apply precautionary measures when driving at all times. He said allowing some extra time to plan journeys helps in avoiding some forms of accidents. The rep of GLICO Insurance educated the participants on the need for comprehensive insurance and the processes involved in assessing claims. During the open forum, some participants raised issues of inadequate road signs sitting one-way lanes, for example, which caused their arrests. They also appealed for the timely removal of faulty trucks to prevent avoidable accidents.

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