Over 1,800 lives lost on roads in nine months, NRSA reports

From January to September 2024, Ghana has witnessed the tragic loss of 1,817 lives due to road accidents, marking an 8.35% increase from the 1,677 fatalities recorded in the same period last year, according to the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA).

Interestingly, the overall number of road crashes has declined. This year, 9,820 incidents were reported, reflecting a 7.48% decrease from 10,614 in 2023.

Pearl Adusu Sateckla, the NRSA’s public relations officer who revealed this to asaaseradio.com, expressed concern over the rising death toll and urged the public to adhere to traffic laws.

She highlighted that between January and September, 11,408 individuals suffered injuries in road crashes, down from 11,694 during the same period last year.

Furthermore, pedestrian incidents decreased, with 1,750 struck this year compared to 1,847 in 2023.

The statistics stem from the 9,820 crashes this year, involving 16,627 vehicles, a reduction from 18,056 in 2023.

Sateckla attributed these positive trends to improved compliance with traffic regulations and collaborative efforts among the NRSA, law enforcement, NGOs focused on road safety, the media, and commercial road service providers.

“The decrease can be linked to the adherence to traffic regulations by drivers, especially those in commercial transport, and the various interventions by the NRSA and our partners, including the Stay Alive Campaign,” she stated.

With the upcoming 2024 elections and the holiday season approaching, Sateckla assured the public that the NRSA is actively working to minimise road accidents.

To enhance road safety education, she announced the establishment of district road safety management committees across all 16 regions, with approximately 82% of this initiative already completed.

Sateckla urged all road users to exercise caution, adhere to speed limits, and comply with established safety regulations.

 

Credit: Asaase Radio