The Road Safety Advocates-Ghana (RoSAG) has called for the immediate ban on new registration and licensing of Toyota Voxy vehicles, because they are fundamentally unsafe on our roads.
RoSAG is a leading NGO dedicated to promoting safer roads, responsible driving and effective transport policies in Ghana through advocacy, public education and technical analysis.
A statement issued by RoSAG alerted the Ministry of Transport, Driver, Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) of the widespread use of the converted Right Hand Drive (RHD) Toyota Voxy vehicles as commercial passenger transport, which it described as “predictable and preventable public safety crisis”.
The NGO has declared the conversion of Voxy vehicles as a crisis and a rolling deathtrap on long haul routes.
The position of RoSAG follows the horrific fatal crashes on the highways as revealed by the Investigative Committee of NRSA that these vehicles crudely converted from RHD to Left Hand Drive (LHD) are fundamentally unsafe.
The statement, signed by its National Chairman, Nana Annor Amihere II, noted that the fatal crashes involving these vehicles are not simple accidents but inevitable mechanical failure of compromised vehicles.
According to Nana Amihere, who is also the Overlord of Aiyinase-Basake Stool Lands, in the Western Region, the artisanal conversion process destroys the vehicle’s very skeleton, blinds the driver on a critical side and when combined with gross overloading, creates a perfect storm for tragedy.
He noted that passengers believe they are boarding a reliable transport unaware that they are in “a coffin on wheels.”
RoSAG, according to Nana Amihere, has identified the fatal flaws from the conversion from RHD to LHD, the cut and weld of the core structure rendering the protective ability of the airbag and seat belt useless, and the overload multiple from the increase in passengers for the vehicle originally designed as a family car.
“The economic incentive to use these cheap converted vehicles must not outweigh the sacred value of human life”, Nana Amihere emphasised.
RoSAG has, therefore, called for the immediate moratorium on the inspection, registration and licensing of all newly converted RHD-to-LHD vehicles for commercial use.
It also proposed an “Operation Overload” programme on all major highways to enforce passenger load limits and as well called for a shift in policy to encourage the importation of safer, factory-built LHD minibuses as well as the development of a compulsory Ghana Standard to regulate any future conversions to ensure that safety is not compromised.
It also suggested National Public Awareness campaign to educate operators, drivers and the public on the inherent risks of converted vehicles
As a result, RoSAG has since submitted a Four-Point Action Plan to the authorities (Ministry of Transport, DVKA, NSRA, GPRTU and Ghana Standard Authority (GSA) demanding a regulatory action against safety challenges in Toyota Voxy conversion.
RoSAG has pledged its support to agencies in any capacity required and demanded a meeting to discuss the implementation of the life saving recommendations.
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