The Acting Central Regional Head of the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC), Linda Affotey Anna has reiterated the need for all to join in the fight against road accidents in the Central Region.
She explained that although road accident related issues in the Region remains high on the agenda of various stakeholders, much needs to be done to completely record a zero free statistics.
She explained that Statistics from the National Road Safety Commission indicates that the Central Region has one of the highest accident rates in the country with over 253 reported cases this year compared to 222 of 2018.
Making a comparison of the first quarter statistics for 2019 Road Traffic Crashes with 2018 figures, Madam Affotey Annan indicated that the 2019 figures increased compared to that of 2018.
“588 cases were recorded compared to 339 of 2018 and this is not good since it has increased by 73.5% and also pedestrian knockdown also increased from 68 persons in 2018 to 72 in 2019,” she added.
According to her, 46 persons were killed in 2018 through road accidents while in 2019 the number decreased to 43.
Speaking to Citi News in an interview, the NRSC Boss said 529 persons got injured through road traffic crashes which represent a 30.3% increase compared to 406 of 2018.
“This year’s figures have increased compared to that of last year but we are doing our best to control the figures,” she said.
Again in 2019, 43 lives were lost through road crashes in the Region while that of 2018 was 46 adding that the figure decreased by 3.
“In 2018, 26 pedestrians were knocked down by vehicles on that stretch whiles 2019 recorded 12 persons, a decrease of 14 persons representing -53.85%” Linda Affotey Annan said.
According to the National Road Safety Commission boss, about 60% of crashes which are recorded on the Cape Coast stretch can be attributed to indiscipline on the part of drivers who use the road.
“This is because the road is good and people over speed and as a result do wrongful overtaking and end up colliding with other vehicles”.
“One thing I have also noticed is that tire bust also contributes to some of the accidents that occurred on this stretch even including fatigue driving and this is not good at all,” she said.
She again called for support from various stakeholders to help fight the carnage on our roads.
“We must all join hands as Ghanaians to help fight this canker that is gradually.