THE Kumasi Central Police Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) realised a total of GH¢574,538 from fines imposed on recalcitrant drivers within the Kumasi metropolis and its environs between January and June 15, this year.
The court fines were imposed on 234 deviant drivers who were arrested and prosecuted by the Central MTTU in Kumasi within that period.
According to the Ashanti Regional MTTU Police Commander, Superintendent James Sarfo Peprah, the drivers were fined for offences such as drink driving, going through red light, picking of passengers at unauthorised places, speeding and road obstructions.
He said in January this year for example, the courts fined 13 drivers a total of GH¢3,800 for various traffic offences.
In February 19 drivers were fined a total of GH¢4,600 for various traffic offences. The number of drivers prosecuted in March rose to 53 with a fine of GH¢ 106, 650 imposed on them after being convicted.
Superintendent James Sarfo Peprah said between March and April this year 79 drivers who committed various traffic offences were fined a total of GH¢202,500 after being convicted.
He said the fines decreased in May with only 36 deviant drivers being arrested and prosecuted. They were fined a total of GH¢8,850.
Between June 1, and June 15 , the fines realised shot up to GH¢10500. In all 34 drivers were prosecuted and convicted for various traffic offences.
Mr Sarfo Peprah expressed concern about the rampant flouting of traffic regulations by drivers in spite of the intensive education the MTTU had mounted in collaboration with the National Road Safety Commission to educate commercial and private drivers over the years.
He said the continuous flouting of road traffic regulations had caused serious accidents, resulting in the death of innocent pedestrians and passengers and that the police would not relent their efforts to arrest and prosecute drivers whose actions and inaction caused havoc on the roads.
He said in Kumasi some driver always took the law into their hands because of the wrong perception that they were untouchable.
He explained that the road linking the Morocco Shoe to the Manhyia Palace was always choked during the evening rush hours because the commercial drivers stopped anywhere to pick passengers, and anytime they were arrested, they threatened to embark on demonstrations.
According to him, the police would never yield to the threats of the drivers and allow them to do their will.
He attributed the traffic jams at certain spots to the activities of drivers and not any other peculiar problem. “The roads are so choked in the evenings that when there is any emergency it becomes very difficult to move through the vehicles," he lamented.
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