RIDERS ADVISED TO USE CRASH HELMETS.... Page 29

Story: Zakaria Alhassan, Tamale

MOTOR-CYCLE and bicycle riders in the Tamale metropolis have been advised to wear crash helmets as a serious safety measure in order to avoid fatalities during accidents.
They and other motorists have also been asked to endeavour to duly register their vehicles and motorbikes before using them in their own interest and that of members of the general public.
The Northern Regional Police Commander in charge of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Police, ASP Nana Kumi, gave the advice at a youth forum at Garizegu, a suburb of Tamale, on the theme: ‘‘Youth Awareness on Development’’.
The participants were drawn from the 10 communities in the Garizegu Electoral Area. It was organised by the Campaign for Balanced Education and Development (CAMBED), a Tamale-based non-governmental organisation (NGO).
Among the topics discussed were the uses of local resources for development, groups and social cohesion and adherence to road traffic regulations.
The commander explained that, contrary to public perceptions, the police were not vindictive in enforcing road regulations but were only carrying out their responsibilities to ensure law and order on the roads for the common good.
He described as unfortunate the practice whereby some motorists in the metropolis refused to wear helmets and rather displayed them on their motorbikes.
ASP Kumi also observed that instead of wearing the prescribed helmets, some of the riders often resorted to the use of cheap and light safety wear prescribed for construction workers.
‘‘You may think you are deceiving the police or the public, but you are rather putting your own life in danger in not using the prescribed crash helmet,’’ he pointed out.
The Project Co-ordinator of CAMBED, Mr Abukari Dokurugu Douglas, urged the youth to be disciplined and law-abiding in everything they did.
He noted that peace was a prerequisite for development and, therefore, entreated them to be wary of self-seekers who hid behind the scenes and pushed the youth to cause confusion in their respective communities.