Bolgatanga, Oct. 26, GNA - The Police Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) in the Upper East Region has, since September 3 to date paid 16.5 million cedis accrued from fines imposed on motorists for violating various traffic regulations into government chest. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) B A Quarshie, Regional Commander of the MTTU, told the Ghana News Agency in Bolgatanga on Wednesday that so far 62 motorists had been prosecuted in an operation aimed at enforcing compliance to road safety regulations and instilling discipline into motorists within the Bolgatanga Municipality and other parts of the Region.

As part of the exercise, MTTU personnel have constantly carried out road checks to ensure that offences such as users of non-registered motorcycles, riders without protective crash helmets and the use of motorcycles that are not covered by the requisite insurance and roadworthiness documents are promptly booked and put before the law courts.

ASP Quarshie said between January and September this year, the Unit recorded 89 accidents involving 131 vehicles, in which 30 people lost their lives. "The picture comes very close to what was recorded for the whole of 2004 when we had 161 accidents, with 34 deaths," he said. He said the extent of road indiscipline in the Region called for a sustained educational campaign alongside the spot-checks being carried out and that his outfit had begun holding radio programmes on the local FM stations in Bolgatanga to sensitise the public adequately on issues pertaining to road safety.

"Contrary to speculations that this exercise will be a nine-day wonder, I want all road users in the Region to know that our presence on the road this time is permanent and we will not spare anyone who contravenes the law," the MTTU boss said. He added that for sustainability and effective coverage, his Unit would continue to enlist the support of recruits from the Pwalugu Police Training Depot in the ongoing operations.

Meanwhile, a cross-section of the public in the municipality whose views the GNA sought on the MTTU's road exercise said it had achieved the desired impact, as more motorcycle riders in town wore protective helmets now than was the case previously.

A check at the offices of the State Insurance Company (SIC) and the Vehicle and Licensing Department (VELD) also indicated that since the commencement of the exercise there had been an upsurge in the number of car and motorcycle owners who called to regularise their vehicle documents.