Government is considering banning transportation of hazardous materials during the day.
Several hazardous material shipments are made on a daily basis on Ghana’s highways; such as Tema – Accra – Kumasi Highway exposing humans, property and environment to risks.
Though accidents involving hazardous materials are not rampant, when they occur their consequences can be rather severe.
The Director-General of National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Abraham Amaliba, tells Onua News that one major policy his outfit is going to implement will ensure vehicles transporting hazardous substances such as LPG and dynamites travel only at night.
“Though we cannot guarantee accident free at night, the impact of hazardous accidents in daytime are normally dire as compared to the day times.”
According to him, the policy is to avert reoccurrence of the 20th January 2022, disaster where a motorbike rider unfortunately went under a truck transporting explosives, causing an explosion at Appiatse community, near Bogoso killing many, destroying dozens of buildings and injuring many.
“The transportation of hazardous materials is heavily regulated, and for good reason. Without strict rules, we’d see far more chemical spills, fires, and public safety risks.”
On the issue of long vehicles plying the roads during the day being an inconvenience to other road users, Abraham Amaliba said his outfit can’t regulate that, he however called for strict adherence to road safety regulations for all road users.
