Road Safety Commission launches campaign against driver fatigue

Mr Thomas Bismark Boakye, Western Regional Coordinator of the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC), has launched a campaign against driver fatigue at Takoradi. In an address, he said tiredness and exhaustion are symptoms of fatigue that contribute to road traffic accidents in the country. Mr Boakye said some drivers underestimate the danger of tiredness while driving and overestimate their own ability of handling the situation. He said a study carried out by the NRSC in 2006 revealed that tiredness and exhaustion while driving could lead to accidents. Mr Boakye said the main objective of the campaign is to create awareness of fatigue and the risks associated with it while driving. He said the campaign was targeted at commercial drivers, especially long distance bus and heavy-duty vehicle operators. Mr Victor Adusah-Poku, Western Regional Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) said the Road Traffic regulations prohibit driving continuously for more than four hours. He said drivers should get at least eight consecutive hours of rest in 24 hours, calculated from the commencement of the period of driving. Mr Adusah-Poku said causes of fatigue include lack of sleep, many hours on the road, driving at night with passengers asleep, drinking alcohol when feeling tired, eating heavy food before driving, bad road conditions and excessive heat from the engine. He advised drivers to get enough sleep at night, adding that they should rest for at least 30 minutes in between driving for every two hours. Mr Adusah-Poku asked drivers to ensure that the tyres of their vehicles are in good condition.