Crime & Punishment of Monday, 14 May 2012

Source: GNA

Koforidua Court convicts 12 drivers

A Koforidua Circuit Court, on Monday convicted 12 school bus drivers for flouting road traffic regulations.

The court convicted the drivers for overloading and in some cases, using expired road worthiness certificates, and were fined an amount of GH¢240 each and warned to desist from such acts.

The buses belonged to the Wesley International School, Frihans School, New Mowing International School, Pentecost schools, Universal school and the Golden Child School.

Police Chief Superintendent James Sarfo Peprah, Eastern Regional Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) Commander, who led an operation code named “go all out to check school vehicles”, said his outfit would continue arresting such buses to ensure the safety of the school children.

He said the road traffic regulations were not different for any category of persons, adding that, being children or adults, the law frowned on overloading and using expired road worthiness certificate to operate.

The MTTU Commander hoped the fines would persuade the school authorities to abide by the traffic regulations as well as devising plans for picking the children at intervals without impeding traffic movements or flouting the rules.**