The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has dismissed reports that it intends to clamp down on vehicles fixed with Television sets.
A Road Safety Advocate of the Road Safety Authority in the Eastern Region, David Abunyah in an interview on Nkawkaw based radio station Agoo FM, said the Authority has plans of banning the showing of movies in vehicles as parts of efforts to reduce rampant accident on the roads.
According to him, TV set in vehicles is a big distraction to passengers and drivers which cause a lot of accidents on the highways.
He explained that passengers are there to monitor and stop drivers from flouting driving laws such as over speeding, overtaking and others which could cause accidents, but their concentration of movies being shown during their trip prevents them from playing the all-important role.
Mr. David Abunyah was quick to add that, the Authority will soon ensure that it is clothed with the power to arrest drivers who fix Televisions sets to entertain passengers.
But a statement issued by Kwame Atuahene Deputy Director Regulatory, Inspectorate and Compliance Department of the NRSA, said there’s no such plan to ban the use of television monitors or similar devices in all vehicles.
“We wish to state that Road Safety Advocates do not have the mandate to speak on policy matters on behalf of the Authority and the said comments must be disregarded.
“However, for the purpose of bringing clarity to the matter, we wish to state that, the law on the use and operation of television monitors and similar devices in Ghana is provided for by Regulation 189 of Road Traffic Regulations 2012, (L.I.2180). It prohibits the use and operation of such devices ONLY when they are fitted on the DASHBOARDS of vehicles in MOTION. It is not the case as suggested that, Passengers are unable to watch audio-visual materials in a moving vehicle.
For the avoidance of doubt, Regulation 189 provides;
‘(1) A person shall not use or operate a television monitor or a similar device on the dash board of a motor vehicle while the motor vehicle is in motion.
(2) A person who contravenes sub regulation (1) commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than twenty-five penalty units or to a term of imprisonment of not more than thirty days or to both’”
The statement added: It remains our expectation that vehicle owners will comply with the law while the Motor Traffic Transport Department of Ghana Police Service takes steps to enforce the law as specified.”
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