By Eric Appah Marfo
Accra, April 1, GNA – The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has urged passengers to play an active role in promoting road safety by speaking up against unsafe driving practices.
“Passengers should act like co-drivers in the vehicle. When a driver is speeding or driving recklessly, they must speak up boldly and without fear,” said Mr Gabriel Adu-Sarpong, Deputy Director of Research, NRSA.
He gave the advice at a sensitisation exercise organised on Wednesday by the NRSA in collaboration with the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service along the Aburi–Mampong–Mamfe road in the Eastern Region.
The exercise formed part of an ongoing Visibility Programme to intensify road safety education and enforcement, particularly along high-risk corridors ahead of the Easter festivities.
The nationwide campaign, which began on Monday, March 30, will end on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. It is being carried out on major highways, including Accra–Cape Coast, Accra–Suhum–Kumasi, Accra–Aflao, Akosombo–Ho, Aburi–Akropong, and Accra–Suhum–Bonso.
It targets all categories of road users, including commercial drivers, private motorists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians, with key messages on compliance with speed limits and traffic regulations, the use of seatbelts and helmets, and the avoidance of distracted and impaired driving.
The third day of the campaign focused on speeding, which authorities said remained a major cause of road crashes in the country.
Mr. Adu-Sarpong said passengers were crucial stakeholders in reducing road crashes by monitoring driver behaviour and intervening when necessary.
He advised passengers to communicate concerns politely to avoid confrontation, noting that aggressive engagement could escalate tensions and worsen situations.
“If the driver refuses to listen, you can report it to the nearest police post. If you feel unsafe, you can also alight at a safe place,” he said.
Mr Adu-Sarpong expressed concern that despite high levels of public awareness on road safety, unsafe practices remained widespread.
He said studies showed road safety awareness among road users was as high as 80 per cent, yet compliance remained low.
That, he noted, pointed to a behavioural challenge that required stronger enforcement of traffic regulations.
“Education without enforcement is entertainment. People know what is right, but they still do the wrong things,” he said.
Mr. Adu-Sarpong illustrated this with a behavioural analogy, noting that although people were aware of the risks of unprotected sex and diseases such as HIV, some still engaged in such behaviour.
“That tells you that awareness alone is not enough. We need enforcement to ensure compliance,” he added.
He said road safety was a shared responsibility involving multiple stakeholders, including enforcement agencies, road authorities, transport operators, and the public.
Mr. Adu-Sarpong also cautioned passengers against pressuring drivers to overspeed, particularly during festive periods when demand for transport services increased.
“Passengers must not be part of the problem. They should support safe driving, not rush drivers. Road safety is an ecosystem. If one part fails, it affects the whole system,” he said.
He reiterated that safety must take precedence over financial or time considerations and urged all road users to contribute to efforts to reduce crashes during the Easter period.
Beyond education, the team distributed souvenirs bearing road safety messages.
Drivers who benefited from the sensitisation expressed appreciation and pledged to comply with road safety regulations.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey