Tit Bits-Ministry of Transport Mid-Year Review Conference 2018

PANEL TEAM ON IMPROVING ROAD SAFETY- SHOULD WE COMMERCIALIZE MOTORCYCLE/TRICYCLE OPERATIONS

MODERATOR: Hon. TITUS GLOVER, Dep Minister of Transport

• 2415 okada bikes in Ashaiman alone; Over 200 Okada stations
• Urbanization, decline in organized public transport, high youth unemployment, low cost of bikes, accessibility to rural areas and others encourage Okada
• 70% of bikes in three northern regions
• Some panelists suggest Okada operators should be registered and coordinated for operations as it offers employment for the people
• Some Taxis owners have sold their vehs and entered Okada biz
• Challenges; increased in crashes, noise and environmental pollution, most are not properly Trained, difficult to verified if passenger is a paying one
• Should be limited to villages and towns with limited or no public transport services but not cities
• More bikes crashes occur in urban areas than hinterlands
• Problem with enforcement due to political and Top officers pressure
• Need to automate traffic enforcement
• 42 (2001) to 437 (2018) deaths per annum; over 3000%
• Restrict Okada to areas and time of operations