As part of the Police Action Against Rider Indiscipline (PAARI) program, the police arrested over 250 motorbike riders in Accra for running red lights.
In April 2022, the service launched 'Operation PAARI,' a road safety initiative aimed at reducing indiscipline among motorcycle users on our roads, which was becoming a major source of road traffic accidents in the country. As part of the strategy, motorcycle riders who were detained for violating road traffic regulations or other traffic offenses during the period were sensitized, taken through some road traffic education, and then warned to be law-abiding.
Following the implementation of the campaign, it has been seen that a significant percentage of riders are now complying with traffic restrictions, particularly in the areas of not jumping red lights, avoiding riding on pedestrian walkways, and facing oncoming traffic. The benefits of Operation PAARI are reflected in data on road traffic accidents in the country, which show that for the first time in a long time, road traffic crashes involving motorcycles have decreased dramatically.
To maintain the successes made in this area, the Police have increased Operation PAARI and deployed special squads at traffic junctions beginning in Accra.
Officers on motorcycles will follow any rider who runs a red light to their destination, confront them with the infraction, and arrest them. This is done to instill fear of arrest among the riding public, so encouraging some measure of self-discipline. In the previous three days, about 250 motorcycle riders have been arrested in Accra for running red lights at several traffic crossings.
All detained motorcyclists will be exposed to road safety education as well as the dangers their acts represent to themselves and other road users, after which they will face legal prosecution.
The police also cautioned recalcitrant riders that open disregard for traffic regulations would result in their arrest.
"In order to ensure sanity and safety on our roads, we will continue to rely on public support to make this program a success."
