Marketer and Distributor of Shell branded fuel, Vivo Energy Ghana, yesterday launched the “Stop, Think & Drive” road safety campaign in Accra.
The campaign is targeted at training over 1000 high-risk commercial drivers and motorcyclists in Greater Accra, Western, Central, Ashanti, Bono East and Northern Regions.
The initiative is aimed at helping drivers and motorists attain advanced knowledge on driving to ensure their safety and that of their passengers.
The campaign launch was attended by officers from National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Driver and Vehicular Licensing Authority (DVLA), Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), Traffic and Transport Department ( MTTD), Transporters and Drivers.
Addressing them at a ceremony at Neoplan Station at Odawna, in Accra, Mr Kader Miaga, Managing Director, Vivo Energy Ghana said though his outfit is associated with the sale of fuel, the welfare of its clients, mainly the drivers and transport operators, is very crucial hence the initiative.
Mr Miaga observed that some drivers have no formal education, but are very experienced in the driving of high-risk cars and that there was the need to educate them more, in order to ensure that the right things are always done.
He indicated that his outfit, after taking the drivers through the training will institute a monitoring system that will keep them in check and help measure the rate of accident.
The Head of Regulations, Inspections and Compliance, NRSA, Mr Kwame Kodua Atuahene on his part expressed his appreciation to Vivo Energy for the initiative.
He said the act was a testament to the fact that Vivo Energy is not only after money but also has the welfare of its customers at heart.
Advising the drivers to take the training serious, Mr Atuahene noted that education was very important. “I appeal to you to take the acquisition of knowledge on driving very serious so that you can save lives,” he said.
According to him, the NRSA itself had issued several directives and organised programs aimed at ensuring safety of drivers and commuters.
He noted that even though hundred percent success has not been achieved, there is a 40 percent compliance level among the drivers and hence charged Vivo Energy not to relent on its effort, because it would pay off in future. He charged the GPRTU to also train its members who could not benefit from the program.
The Public Relations Officer for the Greater Accra branch of GPRTU, Mr Abbas Ibrahim Moro, on his part encouraged his colleague drivers to take the training serious, since it will go a long way to help them save their lives, their families and friends.
He ceased the opportunity to appeal to Vivo Energy to reduce the price of its high quality fuel so they could also patronise it.
The MTTD on their part appealed to drivers to ensure that they are always in good health and the right frame of mind before they drive. It observed that there are people who lose their lives through minor mistakes, which could have been avoided if the driver applied some critical thinking and was in good health.
It again charged the drivers to be extra careful when driving on new routes and also during festive seasons since these have also been identified to be contributing factors to accidents in the country.
