The Ghana Police Service has warned against the unauthorised use of sirens, horns, strobe lights and other emergency warning devices on vehicles, reminding the public that the practice is prohibited under the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2180).
According to the Police, the misuse of these devices creates unnecessary panic among motorists and pedestrians while contributing to indiscipline on the nation’s roads.
The Service has, therefore, directed all persons who have installed such devices without lawful authority under Regulation 74 of L.I. 2180 to remove them immediately. It disclosed that ongoing nationwide enforcement operations have already led to the arrest of several offenders and pledged to intensify the exercise to ensure compliance with the law.
The Police said the continued crackdown forms part of efforts to promote safety, order and discipline on Ghana’s roads and warned that offenders would be dealt with in accordance with the law.
In our opinion, The Ghana Police Service deserves commendation for reminding the public that the unauthorized use of sirens, horns and strobe lights is illegal. It is a timely reminder that these emergency warning devices are reserved for legally authorized vehicles responding to genuine emergencies.
However, issuing yet another press statement will mean very little if it is not followed by sustained and visible enforcement.
For years, Ghanaians have watched expensive and luxury vehicles bully their way through traffic with blaring sirens, despite having no legal authority to use them. Many motorists simply give way because they assume the occupants are government officials or influential individuals.
More often than not, these vehicles pass through police checkpoints without being questioned. This selective enforcement has created the unfortunate impression that some people are above the law.
The Police have indicated that several offenders have already been arrested. That is encouraging, but the public deserves more than assurances. The identities of convicted offenders should be made public after due legal process to demonstrate that the law applies equally to everyone, regardless of status or influence.
Those arrested should not simply have their sirens confiscated and be sent home. They should be prosecuted before the courts if the evidence supports the charges. Justice must not only be done; it must also be seen to be done.
The Police should also ensure that enforcement exercises are transparent. Inviting journalists to cover some of these operations would reassure the public that the campaign is genuine and not another public relations exercise that fades away after a few headlines.
If, in the coming weeks, the roads remain filled with unauthorised sirens and nothing changes, many Ghanaians will understandably dismiss the latest warning as mere public relations.
Road indiscipline is not limited to unauthorized sirens. Commercial motorbike riders continue to disregard traffic regulations with alarming frequency. Many routinely ride through red lights, weave recklessly through traffic and ignore basic road safety rules.
These violations occur in broad daylight, often in the presence of law enforcement officers, yet little appears to be done. Such behaviour endangers not only the riders themselves, but also pedestrians and other road users.
The Police must wake up from their slumber and enforce traffic laws consistently. Whether it is the driver of a luxury or a motorbike rider, every offender must be treated equally before the law. Ghana’s roads will only become safer when enforcement is impartial, consistent and free from fear or favour. The law cannot have one standard for the powerful and another for the ordinary citizen. Until that principle is upheld, road indiscipline will continue to thrive.
For more news, join The Chronicle Newspaper channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBSs55E50UqNPvSOm2z
