DVLA begins full enforcement of tougher roadworthy penalties

The Drivers and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has started fully enforcing new penalties for roadworthiness violations beginning this month.

Although the rollout was initially scheduled for last month, the DVLA says it chose to spend that time educating the public before applying the new rules.

Under the new regime, drivers who fail to have the full set of required vehicle accessories will be fined GH₵225 five times the previous fine of GH₵45. The required items include fire extinguishers, warning triangles, reflectors, and other road safety tools.

Ashanti Regional Manager of the DVLA, Jerry Aflabo, said the updated sanctions are meant to protect both drivers and passengers.

“This was supposed to start in May but we wanted to complement education with enforcement. We used the previous month to educate the drivers,” he explained during a visit to the Kumasi Business Unit of the Multimedia Group.

Mr. Aflabo also cautioned against the use of tinted windows, stressing that it is not just a regulatory issue but also a safety risk.

Quoting Ghana’s Road Traffic Regulation Act 2012, Section 67, sub-regulations 3 and 4, he said “A person shall not drive a motor vehicle with a tinted windscreen… A person may drive a motor vehicle which has glass other than the windscreen with light transmittance of at least seventy percent.”

He warned that drivers who break these rules will face legal consequences. “It’s for their security. Imagine if you are driving at night and you’re being robbed at gunpoint. Because the vehicle is tinted, nobody sees you being robbed. We know there are privacy concerns. But drivers must be cautious about their safety too,” he said.

The DVLA is urging all motorists to make sure their vehicles meet the required standards before taking to the road. The Authority believes this new enforcement will help reduce accidents and crime on the roads, while also encouraging a more responsible driving culture across the country.