Are Ghanaian Motorists Becoming Too Comfortable with Breaking Traffic Rules?
BY; Regina bless
Ghana’s roads are becoming increasingly difficult to navigate, not only because of congestion and poor road conditions, but also because of growing indiscipline among motorists and other road users.
From reckless overtaking and speeding to driving against traffic, using mobile phones behind the wheel and operating unroadworthy vehicles, traffic violations have become a common sight on many roads across the country.
For some motorists, breaking traffic rules appears to have become almost routine. A driver may overtake dangerously because they are in a hurry, use a phone because they believe they can multitask, or drive on the wrong side of the road simply to avoid traffic. What may appear to be a minor violation, however, can have devastating consequences.
A culture of I’ll just manage
One of the worrying aspects of road indiscipline is the apparent normalisation of dangerous behaviour.
Motorists sometimes ignore road signs, traffic lights and lane markings when they believe there is little chance of being stopped or punished. Others follow the behaviour of fellow drivers, creating a situation where one violation encourages another.
Wrongful overtaking is particularly dangerous. On busy roads and highways, some drivers attempt to overtake without properly assessing the road ahead. A moment of impatience can result in a head-on collision, putting the lives of the driver, passengers and other road users at risk.
Speeding is another major concern. Some motorists drive at excessive speeds, particularly when roads are less congested. Yet speed reduces a driver’s reaction time and can significantly increase the severity of a crash.
Mobile phones behind the wheel
The use of mobile phones while driving has also become increasingly visible.
Drivers can be seen texting, making calls, scrolling through social media or checking messages while their vehicles are in motion. Even a few seconds of distraction can prevent a driver from noticing a pedestrian, motorcycle, vehicle or obstruction ahead.
The question is no longer simply whether motorists know that using a phone while driving is dangerous. The bigger question is whether some have become so accustomed to the behaviour that they no longer see it as a serious violation.
Pedestrians are part of the problem too
Road indiscipline is not limited to motorists.
Pedestrians also contribute to the problem through indiscriminate crossing, ignoring pedestrian crossings, walking on busy roads and sometimes crossing highways without considering approaching vehicles.
In congested areas, pedestrians may choose convenience over safety, while some motorists fail to give pedestrians the necessary right of way.
This creates a shared responsibility. Road safety cannot be achieved if only one group of road users is expected to change its behaviour.
Unroadworthy vehicles
Another concern is the presence of vehicles that are not mechanically fit for the road.
Faulty brakes, defective lights, worn-out tyres and other mechanical problems can turn an otherwise ordinary journey into a tragedy.
Vehicle owners have a responsibility to ensure that their cars are properly maintained, while regulatory authorities must continue to enforce roadworthiness requirements effectively.
Enforcement or attitude?
The debate over road safety often focuses on enforcement. Certainly, effective enforcement is important. Traffic laws must be enforced consistently, and motorists who deliberately endanger other road users must face appropriate sanctions.
But enforcement alone may not solve the problem.
There is also a need for a change in attitude. Motorists must understand that traffic regulations are not designed simply to inconvenience them. They exist to protect lives.
A driver who refuses to wait for a few minutes before overtaking may save time, but could also cause a crash that changes several families forever.
Are we becoming too comfortable with indiscipline?
Perhaps the most important question is whether Ghanaian motorists have become too comfortable with breaking traffic rules.
If dangerous overtaking, speeding, phone use while driving and driving against traffic become accepted as normal behaviour, then road safety becomes everyone’s problem.
Ghana needs stronger enforcement, better driver education, improved road infrastructure and greater public awareness. But ultimately, every road user has a role to play.
The next time a driver is tempted to beat a red light, overtake dangerously, use a phone behind the wheel or drive against traffic, the decision should not be based on whether a police officer is watching.
It should be based on one simple question:
“Is this worth risking a life?”
Until road users begin to treat traffic regulations as a matter of life and death rather than optional rules, Ghana’s battle against road crashes and indiscipline will remain a difficult one.