REMOVE THIS OLD TANKER FROM THE ROAD (PAGE 29)

Story: Zakaria Alhassan, Tamale

SOME motorists in the Tamale metropolis have expressed grave concern over the continuous plying of the roads in the metropolis of an old Water Tanker belonging to the Military in spite of its glaring danger to life and property.
The vehicle, with the registration number 89G 65, has been involved in a number of accidents on the busy roads in the area as a result of alleged break failures and lack of proper maintenance. The vehicle is believed to be about 24 years old.
The latest of such accidents allegedly caused by the driver of the tanker occurred last Monday May 19 when he hit a Toyota saloon car awaiting the green light to move at the Agric junction traffic light. In the process, it smashed the back of the car, damaging the boot, rear windshield and tail lights.
According to an eyewitness, Eric Benard, the car, with the registration number GR4022Z, was heading towards town from the MOFA offices while the tanker, which was full of water, was also heading towards the same direction.
He said when the tanker got to the junction, the driver failed to stop and hit the car that was parked.
‘‘From all indications, it looked like the brake of the tanker was faulty because when it eventually managed to stop after hitting the car a number of times as the car owner attempted to move ahead, the mate had to use a wood stump to impede its movement,’’ Benard alleged.
A taxi driver, Moses Tinko, said a couple of months ago, the same tanker hit a motorist at the Jisonayili junction on the same Tamale-Bolgatanga road killing the rider instantly.
‘‘It is high time the Military Command ensured that the rickety tanker is parked off the roads to ensure our safety and that of the pedestrians,’’ he said.
Other motorists the Daily Graphic spoke to wondered why the police could not candidly advise the military to take the vehicle off the road.
‘‘It is about our safety on the roads, so I wonder why the police looks on while this same tanker continues to cause havoc to law-abiding motorists such as the car owner who parked safely at the junction when the traffic lights indicated so,’’ a female driver, Maria Tanko wondered.
The Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the police are handling the matter.