Ghana has recorded 1,585 deaths from 9,205 road accidents between January and August 2020, May Obiri-Yeboah, the director general of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), has said.
Figures from the NRSA show that the road accidents involved 15,459 vehicles, 1,638 pedestrian knockdowns and 9,397 injuries.
“This situation represents a relative increase in the situation over the same period of last year, with a 0.34% increase in the number of crashes, 2.9% increase in the number of vehicles involved, 0.13% increase in deaths, and 1.26% increase in injury cases,” Obiri-Yeboah said.
She was speaking at the NRSA’s engagement with the media in Accra.
The media engagement forms part of the NRSA’s Arrive Alive campaign, which is aimed at ensuring zero accidents on Ghana’s roads.
Pedestrian knockdowns
Obiri-Yeboah said despite the high level of road accidents, there has been a 17.61% reduction in pedestrian knockdowns. However, males remain most vulnerable to road traffic casualties, forming 81% of the crash victims.
“More than 50% of crash victims who die and suffer severe injuries are within the productive age bracket of 18 and 55. This has economic consequences for their families and the nation at large.
“While we advocate better roads, 70% of the crashes occur on the flat straight roads,” she said.
Obiri-Yeboah, therefore, called on drivers to justify the licence they possessed by driving carefully and professionally. “Let us observe the speed limits, reduce our speed in town to allow for pedestrian usage of the roads,” she said.
She also advised pedestrians to look out for safe crossing facilities such as pedestrian crossing points and footbridges before crossing a road.
Campaigns
Obiri-Yeboah said motorbike riders are expected to ride safely, wearing helmets, avoiding needless manoeuvring while looking out for pedestrians, and not running through the red lights at traffic intersections.
She called on the media to carry out public education to sensitise the public and prevent more road accidents.
She said the NRSA will be collaborating with the media to roll out the Arrive Alive mass media campaign, scheduled to be launched on 1 October 2020 in Takoradi.
She added that the NRSA has reached out to 841 bus terminals, 48 churches, 21 mosques and 326 communities, as well as appointing 30 road safety inspectors to help improve institutional responsibility, among other measures.
* Asaase Radio 99.5 – tune in or log on to broadcasts online.
Follow us on Twitter: @asaaseradio995
#asaaseradio #TVOL
