The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) is seeking regulations to control the daily sales targets vehicle owners set for commercial drivers, warning that excessive demands may be contributing to speeding and reckless driving on Ghana’s roads.
NRSA Director-General Abraham Amaliba said some drivers were being put under significant financial pressure to complete several trips each day in order to reach the amount required by vehicle owners.
He said the issue was an overlooked factor in driver behaviour and should be addressed as part of wider efforts to improve safety in Ghana’s commercial transport sector.
Speaking during meetings with commercial drivers and transport union leaders in Accra, Mr Amaliba compared the proposed measures with the regulation of rents.
“Just as our Rent Control regulates the rents, we need to also regulate how much a car owner can demand from his driver,” he said.
Mr Amaliba said some vehicle owners set targets at levels that could force drivers to make repeated journeys within limited periods. The pressure to meet those demands, he argued, could lead to unsafe decisions behind the wheel.
“They sometimes peg the amount so high and that makes the drivers jittery because they need to go a number of rounds before they can make that money. That also leads to the accidents,” he said.
The NRSA director-general said the Authority would advocate for regulation of the arrangements between vehicle owners and drivers.
He also warned drivers that financial pressure could not excuse dangerous driving, stressing that personal safety had to take priority over meeting a daily sales figure.
“Their sales are not as important as they are themselves. Their lives are more important than sales,” he stated.
The proposal adds a further element to discussions about crashes involving commercial vehicles. Public attention has traditionally centred on factors including speeding, fatigue, drink-driving and failure to obey road regulations.
According to the NRSA, the financial expectations placed on drivers can also influence how often they travel and the risks they may take while trying to complete enough journeys to meet their targets.
The Authority is currently holding engagements with drivers and transport unions ahead of the Christmas season. Passenger and commercial transport activity traditionally rises during that period, increasing the importance of road safety preparations.
Mr Amaliba’s comments form part of those discussions, with the NRSA seeking to address both driver conduct and the commercial pressures that may contribute to dangerous behaviour on the road.
