Encourage use of three-wheelers as taxis

In view of the heavy traffic in most parts of the country, especially in the urban areas, the popularity of motorcycles as a means of commercial transport has soared.

There would have been no problem if the operators were extremely professional and obeyed the traffic rules and respected other road users. But it is the opposite of what they are expected to do. They operate without helmets both for themselves and the pillion riders.

In addition to that, they are extremely careless, going through the red lights and riding with three persons on a bike while facing oncoming traffic instead of joining the normal flow on most occasions.

Therefore, even though many think that they are useful as a means of transportation, most people frown on their use for commercial transportation because they are so dangerous in the hands of the operators who are just reckless.

Known as ‘Okada’, and so named in Nigeria where they gained their popularity as commercial transport, in Ghana, they are not insured for that purpose and also the law does not allow it.

With the increase in vehicles on our roads and the need to have an alternative transport that is safe and able to meander through the traffic congestion, the three-wheeler passenger vehicle appears to be the obvious choice.

The most popular one currently in operation in parts of the country is the TVS King, which carries three people; the operator and two passengers.

Very popular in India and other parts of the world, this three-wheeler vehicle benefits the owner in terms of fluid function, good returns, efficiency and easy maintenance and for the passenger; comfort and safety.

As compared to the two-wheel motorcycle, the TVS King has a single shatter-proof windshield for safety and visibility, twin headlights with wider and brighter light beams, comfortable executive seating with enough legroom, a luggage hold with wide storage space, an easy-access bonnet, low center of gravity, which gives greater stability at high speed and a powerful crush zone at the front, which gives safety to users.

In addition, it provides good protection to the operator and his two passengers. On a motorcycle, you are at the mercy of the weather, and sometimes the pillion rider has to carry heavy items on the head or hold them in a manner that does not ensure the safety of the riders.

The TVS King may provide better livelihood than that of taxi drivers as the cost associated with its operations are less than 25 percent of the taxis in terms of spare parts and fuel consumption.

Furthermore, the price of a new TVS King is less than that of a very old used taxi reducing the initial investment to its barest minimum and their daily sales does not drop considering that they are able to carry three passengers on every trip.

It is environmentally friendly looking at the size and age of the engine compared to old taxis, which emit harmful smoke into the atmosphere.

Moreover, the life of the TVS King could be extended to more than 10 years through reconditioning at very low cost.

The TVS King protects the operator and his passengers from the vagaries of the weather because of its covered body while their goods are kept in a special space for that purpose. Its car-like features gives its passengers the same protection a car gives its passengers.

Its smaller stature, unlike the wide-bodied cars, enables it to move through smaller spaces and thus beat the traffic to reach destinations faster than other vehicles.

They can and are most importantly used as ambulances to convey sick people from the villages to the nearest health posts and centres and move on rough terrains and even bush paths. And for those areas that vehicles cannot access due to improper roads, they come in handy.

‘Okadas’ have none of these attributes and benefits. Already, the TVS Kings are providing such useful services in Tamale and its environs earning it the name “Mahama Canboo”. (The Canboo in this instance, mean training shoes).

Dear reader if you were to make a choice between the two as a means of commercial transport, which of them would be your choice? I have no hesitation in choosing the TVS King in view of its superior attributes.

Its use as a commercial transport in other places has proved to be extremely valuable and the appropriate authority in Ghana should endeavour to enact the necessary laws to enable the TVS King to operate without any let or hindrance.

Recently some taxi drivers in Tamale raised issues with their use as commercial transportation in view of the fact that their operations are not covered by any law.

Instead of legalising the ‘Okadas’, which are not safe anyway, the TVS King should be legalised to operate and the taxi drivers should be sensitised to accept them as another form of commercial transport.

Apparently the drivers are worried that the use of the three- wheelers would affect their sales. But what about the ‘Okada’ operators whose operations are known to be so unsafe?

Even unsafe as they are, it is known that on many occasions these ‘Okada’s’ have been used to convey pregnant women on the verge of delivering to health posts and so on. Wouldn’t it be safer to use the three-wheelers to do this?

The time to regularise the use of the three-wheelers as public transport is now and the public must begin to use them instead of the ‘Okada’.

Currently, the TVS King has captured the Nigerian market and has become the most preferred transport there now. It is the most economical mode of transportation in India and other Eastern countries.

But the question is, are there enough in the system to provide adequate transportation for the public?

My checks indicate that a subsidiary of Samir Engineering Group, Platinum Motors, representatives of the manufacturers in Ghana, are the distributors and they would do well to ensure that there are enough once the necessary legislations are promulgated.

We have been late in bringing it into our system and we should be thankful to Samir Engineering Transport Limited for having brought this alternative to Ghana though late.