‘We don’t place value on human lives’ – Former DVLA boss on road deaths

Former Chief Executive of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Justice Yaw Amegashie, says road crashes and fatalities in the country can only be significantly reduced when people begin to place greater value on their lives.

He believes many road crashes are preventable but occur because road users fail to prioritise their safety over the vehicles, motorbikes and roads they use.

"For us to reduce road deaths through road crashes, we should place value on human lives. Because I have a strong belief that we don't place value on human lives," he said, speaking in an interview with veteran television personality Kafui Dey on his recent YouTube vlog.

The retired road safety expert and lawyer expressed concern about dangerous behaviours among road users.

He cited the practice of motorbike riders carrying more than two passengers, pedestrians using mobile phones while walking or crossing roads, and drivers failing to exercise caution as some of the behaviours contributing to road crashes.

"A non-negotiable requirement is that every vehicle must have a pair of warning triangles. But on our roads, one thing that annoys me is when I see vehicles break down and some of them put a gallon behind them. A motorcycle is meant for the rider only and a pillion rider, but we see three people, at times, our wives, sisters and aunties carrying their children, one in front of the rider, another behind the pillion rider."

"So it appears we don't place value on human lives.... people don't look at it that way, every little mistake you make can lead to death. When you go out now, you will see pedestrians when crossing the road; they are on their phones, so they put value on the phone. We also take unnecessary risks, people are dying as a result of playing with their motorcycles, and people know that people are killed in such acts, but they continue to do it," he said.

Justice Amegashie said that addressing these safety lapses requires a change in attitude and greater personal responsibility among road users.

He argued that when Ghanaians recognise these dangers and take deliberate steps to avoid them, road crashes and fatalities in the country will reduce significantly, if not end altogether.