Let's avoid such acts

Story and Pix: Benjamin Xornam Glover In this photo taken on Monday February 11, 2013, a passenger sits on a package not a seat placed in the aisle of a moving O&A passenger bus traveling from Kumasi to Tamale, a distance of about 378 kilometers. Despite the fact that the bus was full, managers of the station found it prudent to overload the vehicle much against protestation from some of the passengers. Overloading has been identified as one of the major acts of indiscipline by drivers on our roads. Yet still, transport owners and drivers continue to carry out this appalling act. The man seated there joined an O&A bus with registration number AE 1309 - 12 at the Kumasi terminal. It is a known fact that an overloaded vehicle poses serious dangers to drivers and other road users. Overloaded vehicles are dangerous because they require longer distances to brake before coming to a stop. Again, they generate high centrifugal forces in corners and shifting loads or loss of tyre grip becomes an instant safety risk Overloading reduces tyre life, which increases the risk of blow-outs and reduces the driver’s control over the vehicle, escalating the chances for an accident. If Ghana is to win the war against indiscipline on our roads and needless deaths, such bad attitude such as overloading must be discouraged. -end-