Ashaiman drivers demonstrate against new road traffic law

Drivers in the Ashaiman Municipality of the Greater Accra Region Monday morning demonstrated to send home their displeasure on the implementation of the amended road traffic regulations (LI 2180).

As early as 5:40 scores of commercial drivers in the municipality who converged at the main lorry station mounted roadblocks creating a gridlock extending to the Tema Motorway roundabout.

Scores of commuters and school children were left stranded, as the situation inhibited vehicular movement, following what the drivers described as a strike action.

The implementation of the policy would see commercial drivers writing computerized exams as requisite conditions for issuing license.

The amended legislation also requires that drivers fix seat belts in their vehicles and also renew their registration numbers every quarter.

According to the leadership of the drivers’ union in the municipality, the new policy was unfriendly to most "illiterate" commercial drivers, since majority could not read nor write.

They argue that the DVLA did not engage the transport union to solicit their input into the policy and its implementation.