Crime

1,915 perish in road accidents

More than 1,915 people died in road accidents across the country from January to October this year with 11,520 sustaining varying degrees of injuries, during the same period, from a total of 11,342 road crashes.

Similarly, 1,921 people lost their lives with 11, 130 injured from 11, 159 road accidents the same period in 2018.

The Director of Research and Training of the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD),  Superintendent of Police (Supt) Alexander Kweku Obeng disclosed these to the Ghanaian Times in Accra yesterday, saying  the accidents represented  an increase of 1.64 per cent.

He mentioned 2,418 pedestrians knock downs involving 6,951 commercial, 7,932 private vehicles and 3,369 motorcycles.

According to him, Greater Accra Region took the lead with 3,530 cases followed by Ashanti Region with 2,606 cases.

Supt Obeng stated that the worry trend was road crashes involving motorcycles, adding that 3,156 of such cases were recorded last year from January to October and 3,369 this year within the same period.

“There is an increase of 6.75 per cent in motorcycle crashes which have resulted in the death of 589 people and injured 2,787 people, ”he added.

Supt Obeng attributed most of the accidents to indiscipline by  drivers, excessive speeding, driving rickety vehicles, wrongful over taking and drunk driving, talking on phone while driving , facebooking,  driving in opposite direction and use  of substandard tyres among others.

Supt Obeng said as part of measures to reduce the canker on the roads the MTTD will vigorously enforce the law, adding that drivers would be arrested and prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others.

He said the Department would collaborate with key stakeholders such as the National Road Safety Commission, Driver Vehicle and Licences Authority and media in its sensitisation programme for the public.

Supt Obeng said more personnel would be deployed on the roads during this year’s Yuletide to help traffic management.

He said accident squad teams had also been deployed to accidents hot spot to check on drivers speeding alcohols intake with equipment such as speed radar guns and breathalysers among others.

Supt Obeng urged motorcycle riders to wear prescribe protective clothing such as reflectors, riding boots, hand cloves, knee caps, and crash helmet.

“Under regulation 195 of Legislative Instrument (LI)2180 of 2012 riders and pillion riders need to get such protective clothing for their protection to help in the reduction of fatalities, ’’he added.

He urged drivers to adhere to the road safety regulations to ensure sanity on the roads.

Supt Obeng advised road users to use designated routes such as Zebra Crossing, foot bridges, traffic lights to ensure their safety.

BY ANITA NYARKO-YIRENKYI

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