[ 2017-11-10 ]

Ministers are not allowed to use sirens; Police order immediate removal
The Motor Transport Traffic Department (MTTD) says
political and government appointees do not fall in
the category of persons allowed by the law to use
sirens.

According to the Director in-charge of Education,
Research and Training, DSP Alex K. Obeng, the
permit is for Heads of State, police vehicle,
ambulances as well as motor vehicles used by other
recognised government security agencies.

Other agencies authorised to use the siren are
bullion vehicles registered by the licensing
authority as well as authorised emergency
vehicles, he said.
Many road users are annoyed at the abuse of sirens
by politicians and some ‘big men’ in society
as well as the police themselves, who use them
during rush hours.

The police sound their sirens consistently
virtually pushing every vehicle to the shoulders
of the road in order to have unimpeded access.

Speaking on the Super Morning Show on Joy FM
Friday, however, DSP Alex Obeng said the Road
Traffic Regulation 74(3) of LI 2180 provides that
a siren or bell may be fitted as a warning
appliance and used only on certain categories of
motor vehicles.

“Whether you are a chief director, whether you
are minister…whether you are whatever, you are
not allowed to use the siren or the blue bulbs,”
he warned.

Regulation 74(2) of L.I. 2180 provides that … a
person shall not fit on a motor vehicle a warning
appliance other than a type approved by the
Licensing Authority (DVLA).
The law is therefore clear on who can install and
use motor vehicle warning appliances including
bells and sirens in their vehicles.
The law lists categories of entities permitted to
install and use sirens and horns. They are listed
as follows:
    a government vehicle used for official
purposes by the Head of State

    a Police vehicle

    a motor vehicle used by the Fire Service

    a motor vehicle used as an ambulance by a
hospital or clinic

    a motor vehicle used by other recognized
Government security agencies

    a bullion vehicle registered by the
Licensing Authority.

It is, therefore, an offence for any person not
within the above-listed entities to install or use
sirens and horns

DSP Obeng therefore, advised transport officers at
the various governmental agencies to ensure the
immediate removal of sirens and bulbs fitted to
vehicles that have been given to their respective
institutions.

Between January and October 2017, 3,200 drivers
were rounded up for various road traffic offences
including drunk driving, dangerous driving, and
unauthorised use of sirens, the MTTD official
revealed.

He said out of the number, 2,108 were convicted
and sentenced to various jail terms and some
slapped with fines “and they remain convicted
criminals.”

DSP Obeng advised drivers and road users to pay
attention to the rules because a violation will
see them face the law and not their passengers
including the politicians they may be
chauffeuring.

Source - Myjoyonline.com

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