A report from the Kumasi Metropolitan traffic management revealed that, vulnerable road users, pedestrians, cyclists and motor riders accounted for 76 per cent of all road traffic deaths recorded in 2021 in Kumasi, with pedestrians alone accounted for 60 per cent of the reported deaths.
At the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) Road Safety Report launching, MrAkuamoahBoateng, Metropolitan Coordinating Director, indicated that the new data was revealed in the second Kumasi road safety report which was developed by the KMA in collaboration with the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS).
He said the global public health organisation Vital Strategies provided technical support for the creation of the report which included data from police crash records.
The report outlined that 40 per centof deaths among pedestrians were mostly caused by cars/pickups.
He said buses/minibuses were also the cause of 27 per cent of pedestrians’ deaths in 2021.
Mr Boateng stated that, findings from the report showed a consistent increase in the overall number of reported road traffic deaths in Kumasi from 2017 to 2021, the number of reported deaths in 2021 increased by three per cent over the previous year.
Males, he said, accounted for seven out of 10 reported deaths and injuries in 2021, the highest population of deaths were recorded among people aged between 30 and 39 years, while injured were frequently reported among those aged between 20 and 29 years.
Mr Boateng pointed out that, Anloga junction, Boadi junction, Amakom traffic intersection, Krofrom traffic intersection and Abrepo junction emerged as high-risk points for fatal and serious injury crashes.
With the Accra-Kumasi Road, PV Obeng Bypass, Sunyani Road, Osei Tutu Boulevard and West End Hospital Bypass emerging as high-risk corridors for fatal crashes.
Mr Boateng said 19 per cent of the reported deaths occurred because of crashes between6 p.m and 8 p.m in 2021, while 45 per cent of deaths occurred because of crashes on weekends in 2021, 33 per cent of vehicles were observed speeding over the posted limit in 2021, 44 per cent deaths of motorcycle drivers and six per cent of passengers correctly wore helmets in 2020.
The Coordinator said the KMA was complementing national road safety efforts to save lives, and expressed the hope that, the strategic actions taken by KMA to reduce road deaths and injuries would encourage other stakeholders at the local and national levels to prioritise road safety.
Dr Raphael Awuah, Regional Technical Advisor, Africa Road Injury Surveillance Vital Strategies, expressed worry about the fact that, more fatal crashes occurred on weekends in Kumasi from 6 p.m and 8 p.m being the high risk times.
He stressed the need for re-enforcement of safety laws and requirements to increase visibility towards reduction of high-risk.
DrAwuah mentioned that mostly pedestrians suffered fatal head injury and for that matter, the report being launched would help with planning.
Stakeholders at the launching included KMA, BIGRS, the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service, Ghana National Fire Service, National Road Safety Authority, Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and the Ambulance Service.
FROM KINGSLEY E.HOPE, KUMASI
