Every year a large number of people are killed or injured in traffic accidents in Ghana, although no exact figures are kept, and it is estimated that the risk of being killed is about 70 times greater than in Sweden, a country with half the population. This very low driving standard, combined with a low level of education, has repercussions not only for the individual but for the whole country. This is reflected in high medical care costs and development retarded due to the largely unnecessarily high costs of medical care. For many families, getting a driving licence, even for those without any education, means an entry to the labour market. The current driving test requires a few questions on traffic signs to be answered correctly and the ability to drive a short distance in order to pass. It is against this background that the problems encountered by VTI in trying to create a driver training programme, whether the applicant can read or write, is discussed. The new programme will provide greater emphasis on traffic safety with driver training geared to the heavy driving conditions likely to be encountered.
Abstract