Techiman (B/A), June 8, GNA - Mr Johnson Badu Antwi, Techiman taxi branch Chairman of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has expressed concern over the carnage on the roads, which he blamed on drivers and not the vehicles.

Reacting to the call by a section of the public to ban the use of the 207 buses as passenger vehicles, he maintained that although most 207 vehicles have of late been involved in accidents, such accidents were caused by human error and could have been avoided. Mr. Antwi was empathic that the 207 buses were transformed to carry passengers on arrival in the country, adding that said some of the passenger buses on the roads were originally cargo cars but have successfully operated in the country for several years without accidents.

The branch Chairman, who was speaking to the Ghana News Agency therefore called on all stakeholders in the transport industry, such as the VELD to be circumspect in the issuance of license to prospective drivers and see to it that the right license is issued to drivers after going through the rudiments of driving. He also called on the various unions such as the GPRTU and the PROTOA to critically examine new drivers to see whether they have the right license and experience before they are admitted.

Mr Antwi noted that there were too many groupings (unions) under the private transport sector which does not augur well for discipline among drivers but also give the drivers the opportunity to dodge punishment since it is difficult to locate which union or association they belongs to.

He called for a uniform code of conduct for all drivers in the various unions to forestall indiscipline to kelp reduce accidents on the roads.

As a world of caution, the Chairman pleaded with the executives of the unions not to always sit at the office but to periodically go on road checks to put offensive drivers on the right direction. Mr. Antwi called on vehicle owners to fully co-operate with the drivers, especially in the maintenance of their vehicles.

He advised them to join one of the unions since according to reports, most vehicles, which are involved in accidents were mostly "floating" cars which, had no links with the union.