THE LA DADE-KOTOPON Municipal Assembly branch of National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has held education programme dubbed “Drive Safely” for the drivers in La township (Maa mle).
The event was in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service and Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) on the ideal of “Disaster Reduction; A Shared Responsibility”.
Madam Deborah Ofori, Directress, LaDMA NADMO indicated in her opening statement that it is high time drivers are reminded of their driving safely, especially since cars are susceptible to fire outbreak at anytime.
The recent change in the current unpredictable weather condition where it rains at anytime; makes the streets very slippery when drivers try to apply car breaks.
She informed the fully participated event that October 13 of every year is “NADMO Day of Disaster Risk Day”, which this year fell on last Sunday, hence the need to celebrate it on Monday October 14, 2024 with such an educative programme.
The MTTD, Ghana Police Service La Dade-Kotopon Municipal, Superintendent Agyanim, indicated that for a better road safety there are governing rules which help both drivers and pedestrian’s safety where dos and don’ts play pivotal roles.
The NADMO programme over the week identified problems such as lack of proper road maintenance, missing road signs, people selling on the part of road and drinking of alcohol whilst driving and funerals on the road etc. within the Municipality, end up creating nuisance for drivers and pedestrian’s safety.
Superintendent Agyanim and his men charged drivers to be watchful for those who cross the roads. He mentioned some few accident statistics in the Municipality and believed could be managed in order to reduce accidents drastically.
He mentioned that in 2022, out of about 154 accidents, about 39 deaths were recorded; and in 2023 out of 148, 9 deaths recorded all in motorists accidents. Meanwhile 2024 recorded 5 deaths out of 55 accidents.
On her part, DO-3 Mrs. Jacqueline Awuah, Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) educated the drivers saying they are driving with 3 agents of fire, oxygen, heat and fuel/gas.
To this, she taught them how these agents could spark fire; but she was quick to add that when 1 of the 3 agents is out, the rest are helpless and cannot cause fire.
Mrs. Awuah lamented on the bad behaviour of some drivers who shook theirs vehicles at the filling stations to enable the fuel attendant fill their fuel tanks to the brim.
She educated the drivers that the car fuel tanks are suppose to have spaces for air, hence the number of gallons of fuel to take and leave created space for air.
She pointed out that shaking vehicles at the fuel stations in order fill the tank to the brim is extremely dangerous because it completes the 3 agents – heat in addition to the fuel and oxygen outside to spark fire.
DO3 Mrs. Jacqueline Awuah appealed to the drivers to desist from this habit. She also implored drivers and the general public to always call the GNFS in case of any accident immediately after calling Ghana Police Service.
She was alarmed how drivers were rather interested in using “sheltoux as extinguishers” instead of approved standard of fire extinguisher in the market for their vehicles.
She informed the drivers to get to the nearest Ghana Natioal Fire Service office to fill their extinguishers anytime the contents are ran-out.
She ascertain the fact that police is informed to appear at an accident scene, the presence of GNFS is very important since they save lives better.
Source: Nationaltymes.com
