Blame drivers for Yutong bus accidents — Yutong Veep
The Vice-President of Yutong Group of Companies, Mr Xiang Wang, has advised Yutong bus drivers in Ghana to be cautious on the road when driving.
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He said instead of blaming the accidents on the buses, the drivers should be held responsible because of their refusal to adhere to road safety regulations and user manuals.
He advised the drivers to refer to the manuals at all times not only to avoid accidents but also extend the lifespan of the vehicles.
Mr Wang was responding to some claims that most accidents on Ghanaian roads were usually blame on the Yutong buses, when a group of Ghanaian journalists visited the Yutong plant in Zhengzhou, China.
The visit was to gain insight into the operations of the Yutong Group and to also discuss its relationship with Jospong Group and one of its subsidiaries, J A Plant Pool, distributors of Yutong products in Ghana.
Places the delegation visited included the Yutong Heavy Industries Company Limited and the Yutong Buses Company Limited.
Accidents involving Yutong
In September 2012, four people died on the spot at Nkawkaw when an Accra-Bawku bound Yutong bus ran into a taxicab. In September 2013, four passengers died and others sustained various degrees of injury when a Yutong bus plunged into the Pomponi River, near Hwerewase Mamprom in the Adansi North District in the Ashanti Region. the list is long.
Cautious on the road
Mr Wang said “most of the drivers assume that because they know how to drive, they do not need the manual of the vehicle to guide them. This situation is dangerous”.
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With some of the country’s road filled with pot-holes, he said the bad nature of the roads in Ghana also affected the durability of the vehicles and advised the drivers to be cautious on the road.
Yutong is the leading bus brand in China.
Yutong Buses
During a tour at the Yutong buses facility, the General Manager in charge of North-West Africa Division, Mr Kevin Pan, said it manufactured large and medium-sized buses and coaches, with a daily output currently running at over 310 units.
These buses, he said, were exported to various countries, including Ghana and Nigeria.
He recalled that in 2008, the company delivered 250 buses to Ghana and a further 490 buses in 2010 following a request from the government.
The move, Mr Zhou said, opened the doors of bus business between the company and Ghana.
Energy Buses
Mr Pan announced that plans were underway to introduce the Yutong Hybrid bus, a new energy-saving model of the Yutong bus, in Ghana next year.
He said the model, which is currently undergoing some tests in China, operated on gas, making it very durable and energy efficient.
Yutong Heavy
At the Yutong Heavy facility, the Sales Manager for the African Region and International Department, Mr Kevin Liu, said most of the pieces of equipment produced were heavy machinery.
These, he said, included the wheel loader, compression waste truck, sewage suction truck, refuse transfer vehicle, concrete mixer truck, and primary haulage.
Relationship with Jospong Group and J A Plant Pool
Speaking on the relationship between Yutong and the Jospong Group of Companies, Mr Wang described it as a loyal one and thanked Jospong for extending a hand of development to Ghana and Africa as a whole.
He said the Jospong Group had supported the company since its operations in Ghana in 2007, saying, "we are grateful for their support over the years and we will continue to do business with the group."
Mr Wang said Jospong had also helped to increase the organisational strength and efficiency with its Ghanaian customers.
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"With support from Jospong Group, we have been able to open an effective service training centre in Ghana to provide customers with indepth-knowledge of how to run and operate the vehicles," he said.