Did you know your actions in a trotro could land you a fine or even jail time?

Many passengers assume that road traffic laws are mainly concerned with drivers. Ghana’s new Road Traffic Regulations show that passengers also have responsibilities when using public transport.

What does the law say?

According to the Road Traffic Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2519), Regulation 189 deals with prohibited conduct by a passenger in a passenger-carrying vehicle.

In simple terms, passengers are also expected to behave appropriately while travelling. Being in the back seat does not mean the law has forgotten about you. 😄

What is the penalty?

A person who breaches Regulation 189 may, upon conviction, face a fine of between 10 and 25 penalty units, imprisonment for up to 30 days, or both.

So that trotro journey you thought was strictly the driver’s responsibility could potentially become your legal problem too.

What should passengers do?

Passengers should avoid conduct that could interfere with the safe and orderly operation of a passenger vehicle. Where there is uncertainty about what is permitted, the safest approach is to cooperate with the driver and other authorised persons and avoid behaviour that could create danger or disruption.

Road safety is a shared responsibility. The driver has obligations, but passengers do too.

What’s your take?

Did you know that a passenger’s conduct inside a vehicle could amount to a road traffic offence?

Share this article with other passengers and tell us what you think in the comments.