A/R: Accident deaths increased in 2016 – Road Safety
Deaths through road accidents in the Ashanti region increased in 2016 as compared to 2015, statistics from the National Road Safety Commission indicates.
Figures made available to Otecfmghana by the road safety commission in the region indicates that about three hundred (300) persons were killed in One thousand, nine hundred and one (1,901) road accident cases last year as against one hundred and fifty three (153) persons killed in one thousand and sixty four (1,064) cases in 2015.
According to the commission, a total number of pedestrians knocked down by either vehicles or motorbikes also rose from 196 in 2015 to as high as 611 in 2016.
Explaining some of the contributing factors that led to the rise in road accidents to Otec News reporter Agya Sam, the planning officer for the commission in the Ashanti region, Simbiat Wiredu blamed drivers for lack of maintenance of their vehicles, over-speeding and disregard for traffic regulations, among others.
Ms. Wiredu noted that the presence of officers of the police MTTU on our roads would not be necessary if drivers adhered to traffic regulations such as stopping for pedestrians to cross at the zebra and stopping when traffic lights show red.
She advised pedestrians to walk in files when using the pedestrian walkway and desist from walking astride.
she also warned traders to stop operating close the pavements.
Ms. Wiredu, however appealed to drivers to stop for pedestrians to cross at the zebra-crossing and also charged pedestrians to use the footbridge as a way of ensuring their own safety.
Source: otecfmghana/Agya Sam
