LADA Institute engages MPs and stakeholders in the road sector on legislative changes on child restraint / seatbelt usage

The LADA Institute, a not – for – profit organization has organized advocacy workshop with some selected Members of Parliament (MPs) on key legislative changes on some road safety matters in Accra.

The workshop dubbed “Focus on child Restrain / Seat belt Usage And Blood Alcohol Concentration Levels brought together Members of Parliament, representatives from the National Road Safety, Authority, Ministry of Gender and Social Protection, Ministry of Transport, Motor Transport and Traffic Directorate (MTTD), Academia, NGOs and other players in the transport Sector.

The workshop seeks to raise awareness about the importance of seatbelt and child restraint systems, advocate for a reduction in blood Alcohol concentration levels and to highlight the need for stronger road safety laws and enforcement.

In addition, it is geared towards the building of support among MPs for legislative action and to forster also collaboration and commitment to road safety advocacy.

Speaking at the workshop on the topic legislative and advocacy support for strengthening the mandatory use at seat and child restraint, the Dr. Roland Atta Kesson said there is a growing practice where parents drive without any form of restraint to child occupants as guardians drive with children sitting at the back seat or held in the arms of other adults while driving.

“LADA in these regard is calling for the need to address this behavioural pattern and have thus called for a legislative framework to scale up education and awareness that will lead to enforcement and compliance of seat belts and child restraint systems across the country”, he said and explained that the attitude will lead to a reduction in road traffic fatalities for children in the country through an effective legal systems.

He said the Institute have identify gaps in laws and have made recommendations to address the challenge in the protection of human right particularly children about their safety on the roads adding that LADA have embarked on a campaign to advocate the strengthening of laws around child restraints and seatbelts.

He said data from the NRSA indicates that 1,288 children the ages of 0 – 17 have suffered various forms of injury in 2022.

For his part, the Ag. Director – General of the National Road Safety Authority, Ing. David Osafo Adonteng urged Parliament to fast-track legislative Instrument (LI) put before the house, saying the effort will help emerging matters on road safety and again called for periodic discussions on road safety.

Members of Parliament urged stakeholders in the transport sector to address the gaps in the road traffic at Act and regulations and resubmit to the house for further review to adopt international best practices.  

Source: Ben LARYEA/johnawuniktv@gmail.com