Driver's Academy to be established by the National Road Safety Commission

Published in the Daily Graphic on 18/12/2009, pg 29

Story: Matilda Attram
A Drivers’ Academy is to be established by the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) to improve the skills and competences of drivers in the country.
When completed, drivers would be required to obtain certificates from the academy before they could obtain driver's licence from the Drivers and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA).
The project is being initiated by the NRSC in collaboration with other transport organisations to improve on driving generally, thereby reducing the spate of accidents.
The Director for Planning and Programming of NRSC, Mrs May Obiri-Yeboah made this known during a road safety walk organised by the NRSC and the DVLA last Saturday.
The walk, which began from the Kwame Nkrumah Circle and ended at the Ministry of Transport, was part of activities marking the 10th anniversary of the NRSC and the DVLA in Accra.
The anniversary being celebrated throughout the country is intended to create awareness of the operations of the NRSC and the DVLA, and also to educate the public on road safety measures.
Mrs Obiri-Yeboah said the proposed drivers' academy would enhance safety on the roads. “We have realised the driving schools around only train drivers on the basic use of our roads that is why we are planning to introduce the drivers' academy to help equip themselves more with the regulations on our roads”, she added.
In her address, the Director of Administration of the Ministry of Transport, Ms Cecilia Ezra urged Ghanaians to take precautions on the roads.
“The road belongs to all of us and not drivers alone. Let us be careful anytime we use it because our nation needs us alive to develop”, she stated.
She therefore urged the public to co-operate with transport organisations and security personnel on the roads to ensure the safety of their lives.
A Retired Assistant Commander of Police of the Motor Traffic Transport Unit (MTTU), ACP Victor Tandoh stated that the initiatives of the NRSC and the DVLA had brought development to the nation since most drivers were cautious on the roads.
He entreated the public to take vehicles that would cause danger to the lives of others from the roads, and also to report registration numbers of vehicles whose drivers misbehave on the roads to any of the regional offices of the NRSC, DVLA and the MTTU.