STAYING ALIVE ON THE ROAD DURING EASTER.
Statistics in 2006 showed that about some 7,600 vehicles had been involved in road accidents between January and September of that year and that 2,000 more were expected to be involved in road accidents before the end of that same year. That meant that within three months of the last quarter of 2006 alone, 2,000 more vehicles would have been involved in accidents! These same statistics also pointed out that from those accidents, over 260 people had lost their lives and 200 more were expected to die before the end of that year. Folks, these are statistics for year 2006 alone, just three years ago and these occurred in no other country but in Ghana! I am not really interested in whether worse statistics could be gotten elsewhere, but I really got worried for Ghana’s road accident record for 2006.
I said to myself, “What a waste of life and property!” This involved lives which could have helped in the development of our dear nation Ghana and furthermore, it involved people whose sudden demise may have ultimately sent many children onto the streets because they could no longer afford to go to school and also fend for themselves.
Three years on, the statistics for accidents on our roads have increased to such an alarming proportion that even doctors at the Winneba government hospital who have been trained to handle such trauma situations, have become overwhelmed and they find it very difficult to handle these accident cases as they keep pouring into the hospital in droves on a weekly basis. Two weeks ago, a very horrendous accident occurred on the Winneba-Apam road and took the lives of more than 30. The incident involved an LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) truck which was said to have burst its tires and run into an on coming vehicle resulting in a head-on collision.
Onlookers as well as vehicles which had stopped to allow for the safe evacuation of the wounded got caught in a huge explosive fireball from the gas laden truck. 20 or so people perished on the spot and the rest died from severe burns at the Winneba government and Korle-bu teaching hospital respectively. As I write this article, there are still more patients on admission whom doctors have said only a miracle from God could save them. Was this an act of recklessness from the truck driver? We will never know because all the evidence has been engulfed by the flames.
In 2008, on the same stretch of road, a passenger bus traveling from neigbouring Ivory Coast to Nigeria collided with another vehicle killing almost half of all the passengers on board both vehicles. This accident occurred in the night and when day broke, on lookers as well as good Samaritans who had stopped to assist in the evacuation of the dead and wounded also got run down by an articulated truck killing and wounding several more. The driver of the articulated truck, driving at high speed was beckoned to stop several metres before the accident spot but he ignored calls to slow down. Was this also an act of recklessness from the truck driver? We will never know the full truth of the matter because most of the people who would have given evidence are dead and gone.
Last year, President Kufuor himself got run into by an alleged drunken driver who failed to stop at the Opeibea house traffic intersection when the President’s motorcade drove past. The president’s car somersaulted several times but fortunately there was no serious casualty. Incidentally that was President Kufuor’s last year in office. Was this also an act of recklessness from the alleged drunken driver? The case is still in court so we will never know until the final verdict is given.
In 2000, President Rawlings’ convoy was also involved in a multiple car accident on the motorway but the President escaped unhurt. Unfortunately two of his security personnel were killed. The accident was caused by a trotro driver who suddenly crossed into the motorway from an unauthorized side road. He absconded but the long arm of the law later caught up with him and he was arrested. Was this also an act of recklessness from the trotro driver? We will never know because the driver is dead and gone. They say it is a case of police brutality. Incidentally that was also President Rawlings’s last year in office.
Accidents have become so rampant in our country today that one wonders whether our drivers undergo any drivers test before a license is awarded. One also wonders whether commercial vehicles on our roads today undergo road worthiness tests before a sticker is awarded. A critical look at most of the commercial vehicles which ply our roads don’t look road worthy to me at all and if I had my own way, most of these vehicles would have been sold to scrap dealers long ago. In all honesty, I think most of these commercial and even some private vehicles do not deserve to “set foot” on our roads, but unfortunately they are on our roads, being driven by unqualified drivers and causing most of these horrendous accidents. A situation has suddenly arisen where accidents have become like monsters lurking in the dark, waiting to be unleashed on you, even if you were a very safe driver.
Take a trip from Accra to Kumasi and back, and take special note of accidents which you come across on the road. You will agree with me that on your return to Accra the tally would have increased by almost 50%. This is the situation which has now confronted us all today and there seems to be no remedy close at hand. It is like an albatross sitting on our backs and it can not be removed just yet.
This piece of bad news should now send the alarm bells ringing to warn us all about the looming dangers of careless and reckless driving on our roads today. This bad news should be enough to caution all motorists about these clear and present dangers lurking on our roads like highway robbers, waiting to pounce on us during the coming Easter period. I take this opportunity to sound this message very loud and clear so that we can all take a cue and help prevent these unnecessary accidents which will in turn save precious lives.
For most us, traveling out of town has become a routine in times of festivities and occasions such as to funerals, picnics and especially during the coming Easter holidays. Perhaps the excitement obscures the one question we all assume will be happily answered at end of the trip. And that question goes like this, “Is the vehicle road worthy”?
For far too many motorists, the answer will be a resounding “No.” For these occasional-time road travelers, what often begins as an exciting and well-deserved break from the normal routine becomes a very costly nightmare which spoils the best laid vacation plans, because we simply do not pay much attention to the proper maintenance of the vehicle.
A little planning and preparation can go a long way towards a safe and happy motoring vacation. A pre-Easter visit to a trusted mechanic can be most important for all drivers and vehicle owners. Even in an age where technology has enhanced automotive performance, the old road adage still implies: “Having faith is good, but checking is better.” So before your next trip, it will be most important to take the following safety tips seriously in order to prevent any traumatic road mishap.
(1) Inspect your vehicle's vital fluids, particularly the engine oil and coolant solution in the radiator. A trusted mechanic will give the recommended grade and service classification of oil that best suit your vehicle. Keep the oil level at the “full” mark for proper lubrication. A proper coolant solution is important for hot weather protection, which is more prevalent in our environment. Also check transmission, brake, clutch, and power steering fluids and be sure to stick to the right type recommended by the manufacturer, particularly with transmission fluid, because the wrong type can damage your vehicle’s transmission.
(2) Tune-up your engine only if you have an older vehicle, as most new models have electronic fuel injection and sealed carburetors that need little adjustment. Consult your auto-mechanic for schedules on recommended tune-ups. This could save you a lot, on precious fuel. Remember the price of petrol went up by 10% this morning.
(3) Check the tires carefully, including the spare one. Most people forget to check the spare tire only to find out that they now have to fix two tires in the event of a puncture in the middle of nowhere. Uneven wear could indicate alignment, suspension or wheel-balance problems. Consulting a good vulcanizer could guarantee a good solution to this problem. Under-inflation can dangerously increase the heat build-up in tires, so keep tires properly inflated. Worn tires need to be replaced before the trip. Always check the tire pressure when the tires are “cold”, before driving at high speed. Also carry the required weight recommended by the vehicle manufacturer and avoid exceeding the regularized speed limit even when driving on a good stretch of road in a new vehicle. A speed limit not exceeding 70mph (100km/h) is considered okay by international standards. Otherwise you will only help to make the following equation true. Overloading + Over-speeding = Accidents and Death.
(4) To ensure proper vision, especially when driving at night, always check the headlights and taillights for alignment and brightness. Replace any burnt-bulbs. Make sure the vehicles’ brakes, trafficator, and hazard lights are working properly. Check and replace worn windshield wipers, and make sure the vehicles wiper fluid system is full of clean water and in proper working order. Also check and clean the rear-view and side-view mirrors.
(5) Avoid the temptation to drink before or while driving as the saying goes: “If you drink don't drive, and if you drive don't drink”. It is a very serious traffic offence and furthermore, it could cause the loss of precious lives. Drivers should also avoid playing very loud music in their vehicles, because this loud music will muffle any unusual noises that may be coming from the engine or tires. Most accidents occur, as a result of this and so drivers should please stick to this rule. Don’t also drive tired. Stop and stretch your limbs a little from time to time when traveling long distances.
(6) Drivers should also make it a point to obey road and traffic signs to the letter. Furthermore, over speeding through towns and villages could cause serious accidents and injury to people who may be crossing the road as well as domestic animals. Drivers must slow down at such points. A speed limit of about 50km/h will be okay. Don’t answer your mobile phone while driving at high speed. Let the front passenger answer your calls for you and if it is an emergency, then stop the vehicle to answer or make that call.
(7) Always carry emergency tools and materials for unforeseen trouble on the road. These should include a flashlight with spare batteries, a jack, fire extinguisher, a knife, a set of spanners and screwdrivers, battery cables, a spare fan and timing belt, reflectors, a blanket, and a gallon of water. Also keep a spare set of keys on you to prevent getting locked out of your vehicle.
(8) Unless your battery is “Maintenance Free”, check the water level frequently, and always keep a spare bottle of distilled water. Checking the vehicles' alternator and fuses is advisable before traveling since most breakdowns are caused by electrical faults.
Finally, always keep enough cash on you for such eventualities. By following these tips before embarking on your Easter travel or any other related trip, you can be assured of a safe and hassle-free road travel. A well-rested driver and a properly maintained vehicle should make sweet music on the road, with or without your favorite cassette or CD.
HAPPY EASTER!
Statistics in 2006 showed that about some 7,600 vehicles had been involved in road accidents between January and September of that year and that 2,000 more were expected to be involved in road accidents before the end of that same year. That meant that within three months of the last quarter of 2006 alone, 2,000 more vehicles would have been involved in accidents! These same statistics also pointed out that from those accidents, over 260 people had lost their lives and 200 more were expected to die before the end of that year. Folks, these are statistics for year 2006 alone, just three years ago and these occurred in no other country but in Ghana! I am not really interested in whether worse statistics could be gotten elsewhere, but I really got worried for Ghana’s road accident record for 2006.
I said to myself, “What a waste of life and property!” This involved lives which could have helped in the development of our dear nation Ghana and furthermore, it involved people whose sudden demise may have ultimately sent many children onto the streets because they could no longer afford to go to school and also fend for themselves.
Three years on, the statistics for accidents on our roads have increased to such an alarming proportion that even doctors at the Winneba government hospital who have been trained to handle such trauma situations, have become overwhelmed and they find it very difficult to handle these accident cases as they keep pouring into the hospital in droves on a weekly basis. Two weeks ago, a very horrendous accident occurred on the Winneba-Apam road and took the lives of more than 30. The incident involved an LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) truck which was said to have burst its tires and run into an on coming vehicle resulting in a head-on collision.
Onlookers as well as vehicles which had stopped to allow for the safe evacuation of the wounded got caught in a huge explosive fireball from the gas laden truck. 20 or so people perished on the spot and the rest died from severe burns at the Winneba government and Korle-bu teaching hospital respectively. As I write this article, there are still more patients on admission whom doctors have said only a miracle from God could save them. Was this an act of recklessness from the truck driver? We will never know because all the evidence has been engulfed by the flames.
In 2008, on the same stretch of road, a passenger bus traveling from neigbouring Ivory Coast to Nigeria collided with another vehicle killing almost half of all the passengers on board both vehicles. This accident occurred in the night and when day broke, on lookers as well as good Samaritans who had stopped to assist in the evacuation of the dead and wounded also got run down by an articulated truck killing and wounding several more. The driver of the articulated truck, driving at high speed was beckoned to stop several metres before the accident spot but he ignored calls to slow down. Was this also an act of recklessness from the truck driver? We will never know the full truth of the matter because most of the people who would have given evidence are dead and gone.
Last year, President Kufuor himself got run into by an alleged drunken driver who failed to stop at the Opeibea house traffic intersection when the President’s motorcade drove past. The president’s car somersaulted several times but fortunately there was no serious casualty. Incidentally that was President Kufuor’s last year in office. Was this also an act of recklessness from the alleged drunken driver? The case is still in court so we will never know until the final verdict is given.
In 2000, President Rawlings’ convoy was also involved in a multiple car accident on the motorway but the President escaped unhurt. Unfortunately two of his security personnel were killed. The accident was caused by a trotro driver who suddenly crossed into the motorway from an unauthorized side road. He absconded but the long arm of the law later caught up with him and he was arrested. Was this also an act of recklessness from the trotro driver? We will never know because the driver is dead and gone. They say it is a case of police brutality. Incidentally that was also President Rawlings’s last year in office.
Accidents have become so rampant in our country today that one wonders whether our drivers undergo any drivers test before a license is awarded. One also wonders whether commercial vehicles on our roads today undergo road worthiness tests before a sticker is awarded. A critical look at most of the commercial vehicles which ply our roads don’t look road worthy to me at all and if I had my own way, most of these vehicles would have been sold to scrap dealers long ago. In all honesty, I think most of these commercial and even some private vehicles do not deserve to “set foot” on our roads, but unfortunately they are on our roads, being driven by unqualified drivers and causing most of these horrendous accidents. A situation has suddenly arisen where accidents have become like monsters lurking in the dark, waiting to be unleashed on you, even if you were a very safe driver.
Take a trip from Accra to Kumasi and back, and take special note of accidents which you come across on the road. You will agree with me that on your return to Accra the tally would have increased by almost 50%. This is the situation which has now confronted us all today and there seems to be no remedy close at hand. It is like an albatross sitting on our backs and it can not be removed just yet.
This piece of bad news should now send the alarm bells ringing to warn us all about the looming dangers of careless and reckless driving on our roads today. This bad news should be enough to caution all motorists about these clear and present dangers lurking on our roads like highway robbers, waiting to pounce on us during the coming Easter period. I take this opportunity to sound this message very loud and clear so that we can all take a cue and help prevent these unnecessary accidents which will in turn save precious lives.
For most us, traveling out of town has become a routine in times of festivities and occasions such as to funerals, picnics and especially during the coming Easter holidays. Perhaps the excitement obscures the one question we all assume will be happily answered at end of the trip. And that question goes like this, “Is the vehicle road worthy”?
For far too many motorists, the answer will be a resounding “No.” For these occasional-time road travelers, what often begins as an exciting and well-deserved break from the normal routine becomes a very costly nightmare which spoils the best laid vacation plans, because we simply do not pay much attention to the proper maintenance of the vehicle.
A little planning and preparation can go a long way towards a safe and happy motoring vacation. A pre-Easter visit to a trusted mechanic can be most important for all drivers and vehicle owners. Even in an age where technology has enhanced automotive performance, the old road adage still implies: “Having faith is good, but checking is better.” So before your next trip, it will be most important to take the following safety tips seriously in order to prevent any traumatic road mishap.
(1) Inspect your vehicle's vital fluids, particularly the engine oil and coolant solution in the radiator. A trusted mechanic will give the recommended grade and service classification of oil that best suit your vehicle. Keep the oil level at the “full” mark for proper lubrication. A proper coolant solution is important for hot weather protection, which is more prevalent in our environment. Also check transmission, brake, clutch, and power steering fluids and be sure to stick to the right type recommended by the manufacturer, particularly with transmission fluid, because the wrong type can damage your vehicle’s transmission.
(2) Tune-up your engine only if you have an older vehicle, as most new models have electronic fuel injection and sealed carburetors that need little adjustment. Consult your auto-mechanic for schedules on recommended tune-ups. This could save you a lot, on precious fuel. Remember the price of petrol went up by 10% this morning.
(3) Check the tires carefully, including the spare one. Most people forget to check the spare tire only to find out that they now have to fix two tires in the event of a puncture in the middle of nowhere. Uneven wear could indicate alignment, suspension or wheel-balance problems. Consulting a good vulcanizer could guarantee a good solution to this problem. Under-inflation can dangerously increase the heat build-up in tires, so keep tires properly inflated. Worn tires need to be replaced before the trip. Always check the tire pressure when the tires are “cold”, before driving at high speed. Also carry the required weight recommended by the vehicle manufacturer and avoid exceeding the regularized speed limit even when driving on a good stretch of road in a new vehicle. A speed limit not exceeding 70mph (100km/h) is considered okay by international standards. Otherwise you will only help to make the following equation true. Overloading + Over-speeding = Accidents and Death.
(4) To ensure proper vision, especially when driving at night, always check the headlights and taillights for alignment and brightness. Replace any burnt-bulbs. Make sure the vehicles’ brakes, trafficator, and hazard lights are working properly. Check and replace worn windshield wipers, and make sure the vehicles wiper fluid system is full of clean water and in proper working order. Also check and clean the rear-view and side-view mirrors.
(5) Avoid the temptation to drink before or while driving as the saying goes: “If you drink don't drive, and if you drive don't drink”. It is a very serious traffic offence and furthermore, it could cause the loss of precious lives. Drivers should also avoid playing very loud music in their vehicles, because this loud music will muffle any unusual noises that may be coming from the engine or tires. Most accidents occur, as a result of this and so drivers should please stick to this rule. Don’t also drive tired. Stop and stretch your limbs a little from time to time when traveling long distances.
(6) Drivers should also make it a point to obey road and traffic signs to the letter. Furthermore, over speeding through towns and villages could cause serious accidents and injury to people who may be crossing the road as well as domestic animals. Drivers must slow down at such points. A speed limit of about 50km/h will be okay. Don’t answer your mobile phone while driving at high speed. Let the front passenger answer your calls for you and if it is an emergency, then stop the vehicle to answer or make that call.
(7) Always carry emergency tools and materials for unforeseen trouble on the road. These should include a flashlight with spare batteries, a jack, fire extinguisher, a knife, a set of spanners and screwdrivers, battery cables, a spare fan and timing belt, reflectors, a blanket, and a gallon of water. Also keep a spare set of keys on you to prevent getting locked out of your vehicle.
(8) Unless your battery is “Maintenance Free”, check the water level frequently, and always keep a spare bottle of distilled water. Checking the vehicles' alternator and fuses is advisable before traveling since most breakdowns are caused by electrical faults.
Finally, always keep enough cash on you for such eventualities. By following these tips before embarking on your Easter travel or any other related trip, you can be assured of a safe and hassle-free road travel. A well-rested driver and a properly maintained vehicle should make sweet music on the road, with or without your favorite cassette or CD.
HAPPY EASTER!
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