Regional News of Friday, 18 January 2013

Source: GNA

Doctor suggests speed bumps must be removed on Highways

Dr. George Aquaye, the Medical Director at the Volta Regional Hospital, has appealed to the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) to remove all speed bumps on highways in the country, saying most of the bumps were causing accidents rather than preventing them.

Speaking at a Volta Regional Road Safety Stakeholders’ meeting in Ho on Thursday, he said the bumps affected rescue efforts and emergency situations and causing harm to patients in ambulances.

Dr. Acquaye said some of the bumps were too sharp and high and were the cause of frequent tyre punctures and damage to shock absorbers.

At a road safety awards for drivers recently Dr. Acquaye brought a polythene bag full of bolts, knots and rivets picked at one of the bumps close to the Regional Hospital to prove the damage which such bumps caused to vehicles.

He said speed bumps could be the cause of low back pains and neck pains reported at the hospitals.

Dr. Acquaye said the way forward was to constantly advice drivers to obey speed limits and replace current speed bumps with more user-friendly ones.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Alex Bedie, the Volta Regional Police Commander, said the police would be visible on the road this year to ensure discipline by drivers.