AT least 1,614 deaths and 9,947 injuries were recorded in 8,653 road crashes nationwide within eight months of this year as against 1,442 deaths and 10,417 injuries in 9,327 crashes
the previous year within same period, statistics from the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has disclosed.
The recorded cases showed decrease of 7.23 per cent in road crashes and 11.93 per cent increase in deaths.
The crashes, which involved
14,654 vehicles, comprising of 6,194 private, 5,028 commercial and 3,431 motor cycles.
The head of Public Relations of the NRSA, Mrs Pearl Adusu Sateckla, disclosed this to the Ghanaian Times in Accra, stating that the deaths comprises 79 per cent males and 21 per cent females.
She mentioned the major causes of the crashes were over speeding, wrongful overtaken and fatigue driving.
Mrs Sateckla said Greater Accra Region recorded a significant drop in fatalities of 18.5 per cent compared to 2023.
On the other hand, she stated that Ashanti Region recorded hike in 156 deaths, resulting in 61.4 per cent increase in same period last year.
Mrs Sateckla noted that despite Greater Accra experiencing more than double (200 per cent), the number of crashes recorded in the
Eastern Region over the past eight months surpassed Greater Accra in terms of deaths
The PRO stated that the Greater Accra was recorded more crashes due to vehicular and human congestion.
Mrs Sateckla stressed the need for the media to intensify its advocacy on road safety in the country in order to ensure that lives and properties were saved.
She further called for stronger collaboration between stakeholders and the NRSA to reduce the menace of road crashes in the country, adding that road safety must be a priority to all to save lives and properties.
Meanwhile the Director-General of the NRSA, Mr David Osafo Adonteng, has urged political parties to abide by the road safety regulations to save lives and property during, before and after this year’s elections.
Speaking at a capacity building workshop for journalists on road safety reporting in Accra, he urged the political parties to abide by the political code of ethics on the road safety regulations.
It was organised by NRSA in collaboration with CUTS International, a think-tank on road safety, to appraise participants on current ethical practices in road safety journalism, to help advocate road safety measures to influence public policy during the elections period.
Mr Adonteng noted that road crashes surged in the country during elections as results of some political parties disregarding safety measures.
“During this period, there is increase in speeding, and supporters seat in buckets of pickups, while drivers drive to campaigns and rallies tired, thereby endangering the lives of people,” he noted.
BY ANITA NYARKO-YIRENKYI
