Riders say education, not age limits, will improve road safety
The Okada Riders Association has emphasized that training is more crucial than age restrictions when it comes to improving safety in Ghana’s commercial motorcycle sector.
This follows a recent proposal by the Minister of Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, to amend the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (LI 2180), requiring only persons aged 25 and above to operate commercial motorcycles and tricycles.
Speaking to Citi News, Public Relations Officer of the Association, Solomon Akpanaba, insisted that training riders should be the government’s main focus. “We have always said and will continue saying that if you want to bring discipline or reduce accidents drastically on the road, look at training, training of the rider. Let your focus be there, not age,” he said.
He explained that even younger riders, if properly trained, can make responsible decisions on the road. “The 18-year-old guy given the training will know the right decision to take,” Akpanaba added, stressing that discipline is rooted in education, not necessarily in age.
The Association maintains that investing in rider education will have a greater impact on road safety than imposing age restrictions alone.
Source: CNR