Road Accidents. There are too many of them on our streets. Mostly inter-city and in semi-urban Ghana, but too many nonetheless. Enter a new law. Don’t talk and drive. All-round brilliance in Ghana once again. But it is not quite a new law. It is only now being enforced now.
There are only minor brushes we call accidents in the cities. The idea behind the law is good, but it is rubbish economically speaking. We spend 3 or more hours simply commuting from home 10 kilometres away from work. Let me not tell you how much is lost in money terms.
AND YOU WANT ME TO PULL OUT OF THE TRAFFIC QUEUE TO PICK A CALL AND THEN FIGHT BACK TO GET IN, RISKING AN ACCIDENT ANYWAY, SO I TAKE 5 HOURS TO GET TO WORK AND BACK HOME?
GENIUS, won’t you rather solve the road traffic problem first? Are we happy that we all work at maybe 20% productivity?
Just like the campaign on zebra crossing....in 1999 (showing my age here!)....this too shall pass and fall by the wayside. No worries!
ReplyDelete@Kwame: true oo; good things that are campaigned for in Ghana, 'pass and fall by the wayside'.
ReplyDeleteAll i see now is another avenue for 'some people' in uniform to extort more money. Wahala oo.
At this point all we can do is hope N pray for wider roads N have law enforcers present at all times to make sure our roads become safe for driving...
ReplyDeleteOk, it's an inarguable fact that traffic in Accra is a nightmare and a half! And something should be done about it!
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I don't see why it's "economically" rubbish to try enforce a don't talk and drive rule! Seriously? people ought to be more responsible! If you need to answer that call, use a hands free kit! Chances are, this call is not about a dying aunt, and you can wait to get home and return that call! And as for those who text and drive? I rarely label people stupid, but that's just what it is!
The title is sarcastic. And it can only come from you. Yes, what do we want...? to postpone an important info for five hours? I also believe that the law is good, however like you said... "get the roads widened, politicians!"
ReplyDelete@ Kwame Mensa-Bonsu:
ReplyDeleteKindly remind me about what the campaign on zebra crossings was all about.
@ Tetekai:
ReplyDeleteAbout bribery, I fear the same although they have prosecuted some 'unusual' suspects already.
@ Didi:
ReplyDeleteYes I agree. But not just wider roads. Proper hard shoulders and parking areas too.
@ Yeh:
ReplyDeleteIt is economically 'rubbish' because, as things stand, you cannot stop to pick a call, and pick a call we must - technology drives all 'modern' economies. If I cannot pick that call, that's potential money lost to me and the State.
Why can't I pick the call? Because the road is narrow and I risk somebody clipping my car even if I park 'off' the road.
@ Nana Fredua-Agyeman:
ReplyDeleteYes yes yes, good law, bad roads to implement.
I disagree - talking and driving cost lives, which offsets any potential economic benefits, which is why most "modern" societies are trying to enforce these laws. No matter what the ulterior motives of the law enforcement agency are, i think drivers need to be more responsible, good or bad roads notwithstanding. If in your line of work you'll lose tons of money by not picking up, then surely you can invest in a handsfree kit.
ReplyDeleteI get the traffic/bad roads aspect, I just don't see why it should be intricately tied to this law... unless this is how the law is constructed.
lol...It was to teach drivers to stop at Zebra crossings for pedestrians to cross.
ReplyDelete