Device To Reduce Road Accidents Launched

A device that will complement the government�s effort at reducing rampant road accidents in the country was yesterday launched in Accra. The Tyron Flat Tyre Protection, which was launched by the Minister of Transport, Mr Mike Hammah, is aimed at reducing accidents caused through tyre blast. The device, which is attached to the wheels after the tyre has been fitted, supports deflated tyre and allows a driver to have more control of the steering wheel when the tyre blasts while the car is in motion. The Minister of Transport, who launched the device on behalf of the Vice-President, Mr John Mahama, said a study commissioned by the national Road Safety commission (NRSC) in 2007 on the impact of used or second-hand tyres on the road revealed that tyre burst contributed three to four per cent of all road traffic crashes. He said the government was ensuring that the roads become safe and has introduced a number of short and long-term measures, which include the introduction of vehicle log books in commercial vehicles above 3.5 tonnes of gross vehicle weight to help minimize fatigue and speed-related road traffic crashes and the fitting of retro reflective tapes on commercial vehicles to improve vehicle conspicuousness among other measures. Mr Hammah said a task force had also been put in place to enforce traffic regulations, particularly with regards to the compliance with construction and use requirement relating to the conversion of a cargo vehicle to passenger-carrying one. Also, he said from October 26,2009, his ministry, together with the Ministries of Interior and Road and Highways, would launch a campaign dubbed �Arrive Alive� to help confront road crashes that occurred during the festive period. He said it was the desire of the Government to make Ghana the hub of transport in the West African sub-region and would, therefore, provide the necessary enabling environment for both local and foreign entrepreneurs to be able to contribute their quota to the hub concept. The Executive Director of the NRSC, Mr Nobel Appiah, in an interview after the launch, said the introduction of the device in the country was timely as the government was putting in place measures that would help reduce road accidents across the country. He encouraged drivers to patronise the device, saying it would help reduce deaths on the road. The Managing Director for Tyron Middle East and Africa, Mr David Hoyle, said the device was the first in West Africa. He said the device, which was invented in the UK, would complement the seat belt and airbags in a vehicle, which are all aimed at ensuring people�s safety. This Technical Director of Tyron International, Mr Tony Glazebrook, who demonstrated how the device worked, said Ghana would be the hub for the marketing of the device in West Africa. The Ghana Representative of Tyron, Mr Samuel Sarkodie Anim, in an address, said the launch of the produce in the country was timely as it would help reduce drastically accidents resulting from tyre blow-outs, deflation and burst. He said it would also help save cost resulting from damaged wheel body box.