THE LAW ON VEHICLE TOWING

It is mind boggling the twist and turns as well as the argument for and against the implementation of the law on the mandatory towing levy. Why is it sometimes so difficult to know what Ghanaians want? Is it not apparent that the enforcement of LI 2180 of 2012 on the vehicle towing levy will benefit the majority of motorists in terms of road accident prevention? The gory road traffic crash involving the Kumasi Asante Kotoko football team on July 12, 2017 and many of such crashes in the past must trigger our minds for an immediate solution to accidents involving disabled vehicles on our roads.

In 2007, the National Road Safety Commission estimated the cost of road traffic crashes to be about one-point-six percent of GDP which is about $165 million. Road traffic accident is said to be the eighth leading cause of death globally and the leading killer of young people aged between15 and 29. Available literature shows that road traffic crashes cost developing countries between $65 billion and $100 billion annually and constitute about one to two percent of GDP. It is projected that by the year 2020, road traffic crashes will move up to the third position as the leading cause of death and disability that will confront global communities.

The Daily Graphic on May 9, this year reported that the National Road Safety Commission recorded 4,049 road traffic crashes involving 6,468 vehicles resulting in 708 deaths. It also recorded about four thousand injuries from January to April 2017. Properties and lives are lost every now and then when moving vehicles rammed into stationary vehicles. The gory happenings on the roads should serve as a clarion call for a rapid and sustainable way of removing broken down vehicles hence the vehicle towing levy.

Some critiques have observed that “with over two million vehicles in Ghana currently, this new policy whose yearly collections is expected to be over and above GH¢100 million is simply going to serve as a cash cow for those behind the policy and not necessarily cure the problem of having some reckless drivers abandon their vehicles in the middle of the road. Will this really be the case? Those agitating for the scrapping of the policy should be guided by the underpinning idea of saving lives and avoid emotional sentiments about which organisation is spearheading the implementation process. This is a life and death matter that our lawmakers have deliberated upon and have given the green light for its implementation. Is the protest against the law a vote of lack of confidence in the work of the lawmakers?

Others have also suggested that the Insurance Act 764 be amended to cover the towing of disabled vehicles. This may be a laudable proposition but the question is how have the Insurance Companies fared when it comes to payment of insurance claims and how prompt can they be in paying for the removal of broken down vehicles on our roads. It is worth indicating that the rhetoric about towing broken down vehicles should not be limited to disabled vehicles on our highways.

The fight should also be taken to those who park vehicles at unauthorized places in the streets. These parked vehicles on our streets also cause accidents in our communities. The District Assemblies must do their best in ensuring that people who live close to the streets do not turn them into parking lots. Dialogue on the policy must continue while the towing companies carry on their work to save lives.

Ghanaians must stop the emotional rhetoric and support the law to help fight the carnage on our roads. The five year grace period is enough, we cannot continue to lose our dear ones to accidents on our roads as a result of broken down vehicles. The Act LI 2180, 2012 was not passed for nothing. The DVLA, NRSC, and MTTD must be allowed to do their work.

Procrastination is a thief of time and a stitch in time saves nine.

BY JONAS ANBAZU, UNIVERSITY FOR DEVELOPMENT STUDIES, TAMALE.

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