The AMA, in collaboration with the Bloomberg Philanthropists for Road Safety and the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) on Tuesday, commemorated the 6th UN Global Road Safety Week in remembrance of road crash victims.
The event, which was held at the Omanye Aba Hall of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly under the theme “Streets for life, love 30”, was aimed at strengthening the efforts of the National Road Safety Authority in sanitising our roads from traffic deaths and injuries.
Speaking at the event, the Metropolitan Chief Executive of Accra, Mohammed Adjei Sowah said road traffic accidents affect health, security, sustainable cities, poverty, and insisted that addressing the risk of death on our roads was fundamental to achieving Sustainable Development Goals and reducing inequalities among and within countries.
He added that driving at 30 kilometres per hour was safe and healthy for all road users adding low-speed streets reduce the risk of serious injuries and save lives.
“Evidence from around the world shows that low-speed streets reduce the risk of serious injuries and save lives. Driving at 30km/h is safe and healthy. Protect all who use the roads, most especially the vulnerable road users, like pedestrians, cyclists, children, older people, and people with disabilities,” he said.
A statistical report presented by Raphael Awuah, the Regional Advisor for Africa Vital Strategies, showed that pedestrians were the most affected road users in 2020 in relation to road traffic deaths.
He explained that pedestrians accounted for 56% of road traffic deaths whilst motorists, vehicles and bicyclists accounted for 28%, 15% and 1% respectively.
The Director-General of the NSRA, Ing. May Obiri Yeboah said road crashes and deaths have become both a national tragedy and an international concern.
She said there is a collective commitment to ensure safety on our urban streets and the need to follow strict compliance and enforcement of relevant road traffic laws.