Residents of Winneba in the Effutu Municipality have voiced concerns over the growing disregard for traffic signs and regulations by some drivers, especially around areas with functioning traffic lights, noting that the situation has become a daily threat to their safety.
Speaking to Xtrememediaonline on Saturday, April 19, eyewitnesses and frequent pedestrians complained that many taxi drivers fail to stop when the traffic light turns red and often ignore designated pedestrian crossings, putting lives at risk.
“We have witnessed several near-accidents involving schoolchildren. Some of them have been nearly knocked down while crossing the road.” A pedestrian, Kwamena Ato Kakraba, shared with Xtrememediaonline.
He revealed that the reckless driving around the traffic light needs the attention of the police, but the police are only around to ensure order only during special occasions.
“The police come around when a president is visiting, or ECOWAS is holding a programme, or when a member of parliament is visiting,” he said.
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Monica Annan is also a pedestrian who shared her experience on the roads of Winneba. She explained that the drivers do not regard traffic signs, especially zebra crossings, and so they never stop for her to cross the road.
“When I stand there, they do not stop for me to cross, which has made being on the streets very unpleasant, and when you decide to cross, you might end up being knocked down by a car. When the traffic light turns red, they do not stop. They do just what they want on the street,” she lamented.
While a few admitted that some drivers indeed ignore the lights, others claimed they personally obey the rules and expressed confusion over their colleagues’ behavior.
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Meanwhile, some drivers explained that they do not see traffic signs, particularly zebra crossings, on these roads.
Kwamena Ato Kakraba corroborated this assertion, citing the zebra crossing at the Zion Girls School. He revealed that the markings were washed away just a few days after they were painted.
“Schoolchildren cross at the Zion Girls junction. A zebra crossing was provided at the junction. We don’t know the kind of paint they used. It washed away when it rained, and so if the taxi drivers say they do not see any zebra crossing, I agree. Almost all the zebra crossings on the main road have been washed away by rains.”
The pedestrians have called on the Effutu Municipal Assembly and the Ghana Police Service to take swift action to repaint the faded markings and enforce existing road traffic laws.
