New Road Traffic Rules: Here are the offences that could send drivers to jail

The regulations also introduce provisions on automated enforcement Ghana’s new Road Traffic Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2519), prescribe fines and, in some cases, imprisonment for a range of road traffic offences, including illegal racing, jumping red lights, improper parking, disobeying traffic officers and using television monitors while driving. The regulations also introduce provisions on automated enforcement, allowing offences detected by traffic enforcement devices to attract graduated fines and, after repeated violations, possible suspension or revocation of a driver’s licence. A 14-page offences schedule prepared by D/Sgt Nana Kwadwo Otibu-Gyan of the Legal and Prosecution Unit, RHQ/Ho, outlines several of the offences and penalties under the regulations. 1. Street racing, drag racing and speed competitions – Section 221 Driving, or permitting another person to drive, in a race, speed competition, or endurance test on a road attracts a fine of 10 to 25 penalty units, imprisonment for up to 30 days, or both. Participating in an unauthorised race under Section 221(2) attracts the same penalty. Under Sections 222(1) to 222(6), failing to stop or yield the right of way at an intersection marked by a STOP or YIELD sign, or failing to stop before a pedestrian crossing, attracts a fine of 10 to 30 penalty units, imprisonment for up to 30 days, or both. Approaching a YIELD sign without slowing down under Section 222(2) attracts the same penalty. Jumping a red light at a signalised intersection attracts a fine of 10 to 30 penalty units, imprisonment for up to 30 days, or both. Failing to stop within the prescribed distance of a railway line at a level crossing, or proceeding before it is safe to do so, attracts a fine of 5 to 25 penalty units or imprisonment for up to 30 days. Walking, driving or riding through, around or under a closed railway gate under Section 223(3) attracts the same penalty. Overtaking a vehicle that has stopped at a pedestrian crossing to allow a pedestrian to cross attracts a fine of 10 to 25 penalty units or imprisonment for up to 30 days. Failing to slow down when approaching a marked pedestrian crossing under Section 224(2) attracts the same penalty. Source: GhanaWeb