Trotro’s Lack of Seat Belts and Space Contributes to High Accident Injuries

Common sense is indeed not common to many of us and on our roads, accidents continue to claim more lives all because we have failed as a nation to apply the rules right.

Trotro’s Lack of Seat Belts and Space Contributes to High Accident Injuries -The Numbers

Manufacturers of buses of all sizes have always ensured that there are enough seat belts for every passenger onboard. Again, the buses are designed with the comfort of passengers in mind hence, enough space is provided between rolls of seats.

In 2020, a total of 1,115 casualties from road crashes were recorded in Ghana. In December of the same year, 82 transportation-related deaths and injuries were registered, a difference of 32 compared to the previous month when 114 cases were reported.

Analysing the consistent trend of fatalities from roads accidents over the past seven years, it is projected that 2023 will record a minimum of 2,500 fatalities and 15,000 injuries from road accidents if adequate accident prevention opportunities are not fully explored. The fact is, we have done near zero about this.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) hinted at plans to implement a mandatory seatbelt for each passenger in commercial vehicles in 2023.

Section 119 of the Road Traffic Regulation Legislative Instrument (LI) 2180 passed by Parliament in 2012, lays emphasis on the use of seatbelts.

It was expected to achieve a 50 percent reduction in deaths and serious injuries associated with vehicle accidents. Alas, the goats chewed the project and the gods might have made the DVAL forget this laudable idea.

If you have boarded a Trotro before, you will agree with me that, the above (Seat belts and Space) are totally absent.

Once these buses enter Ghana, they are altered by local craftsmen who remove all seats and fix locally made ones or add additional rolls of seats which reduces the space between seats. The only reason behind this alteration is to increase the number of passengers the bus can take. Safety is thrown to the dogs.

Again, many of the buses used as Trotro are not meant for transporting humans but for carting goods. Hence, once they arrive, we convert them into passenger-carrying buses and introduce more than enough seats.

The big question that needs to be answered is, what is the Ministry of Roads and Transport going about this grandfather practice in Ghana?

Due to the introduction of additional seats in vehicles used for Trotro, tall people, for instance, have challenges joining as their legs and knees are unable to fit into the rather small spaces left in between seats. Often, you do not need to be tall to suffer this experience.

These rather small spaces have and continue to create inconveniences for commuters every day in nearly all Trotros in this country. Imagine someone sitting and relaxing on his or her chair with little space behind the seat. The next thing you hear is, Ouch!!!, please do not relax, my knees hurt, etc from those behind and suffering.

Due to the smaller spaces in-between seats, alighting and boarding Trotro can be challenging once the bus is full or nearly full.

Again, there are no seat belts in the buses and the authorities, the police, and the entire nation does not care. Funnily, staff of the transport ministry visits private schools that have buses to apply sanctions because they feel the buses do not have enough space or do not have seat belts for school children. Why can’t the same be done to Trotros which are breaking the same law?

The absence of seat belts and space in-between seats in Trotro, is a major cause of high injuries during accidents.

Now, these two issues may look so minor when it comes to injuries, but I bet to differ and say that, they contribute greatly to the number of casualties during head – on collisions or accidents in general. These two can explain the reasons why Ghana records several deaths and injured people during accidents.

The absence of seat belts and limited space in-between seats in vehicles, particularly in the case of Trotros, significantly contributes to the occurrence of severe injuries and fatalities during road accidents. This is primarily due to two main factors: inadequate restraint systems and increased likelihood of passenger collision.

Seat belts serve as a critical safety measure, effectively restraining passengers and minimizing the risk of ejection from the vehicle during a collision. In the absence of seat belts, occupants are more vulnerable to being thrown forward, backward, or even out of the vehicle upon impact. This greatly increases the chances of sustaining life-threatening injuries or being fatally injured.

Furthermore, the limited space in-between seats within Trotros reduces the buffer zone between passengers. During an accident, this lack of space restricts the ability of individuals to brace themselves or adopt protective postures. As a result, passengers are more susceptible to colliding with each other or with hard surfaces within the vehicle, such as seatbacks or metal frames. These collisions can lead to serious head, neck, and chest injuries, among others.

Overall, the absence of seat belts and minimal space in-between seats compromises the safety of passengers in Trotros and contributes to a higher likelihood of severe injuries and fatalities during road accidents. Implementing and enforcing appropriate safety regulations, including the installation of seat belts and ensuring sufficient space between seats, is crucial for reducing the impact of accidents and safeguarding the lives of individuals on the road.

The Contribution of Locally Designed and Fabricated Vehicle Seats to Accident Injuries in Ghana has been documented in research as well.

Buses and minibusses in Ghana, often modified for passenger transportation, contribute significantly to reported road traffic accidents. Locally fabricated seats, lacking safety standards, are a common modification. Medical professionals hypothesize that these seats may be responsible for accident-related injuries. This study aimed to investigate this hypothesis by comparing kinematic analysis results from Working Model 2D software with data from a Mini Survey conducted at the Accident and Emergency Centre of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. The findings indicate that occupants of vehicles fitted with these seats sustain the majority of injuries, and certain design features of the seats may contribute to these injuries. (Source)

READ: Driving Automatic Cars Safely & Mistakes to avoid in 2023 to 2025

All Trotros must have seat belts for all passengers and enough space between seats unless we as a nation enjoy news of fatal accidents.

Source: Wisdom Hammond (055036658)