C/R: 68 Dead, 263 Injured In Road Crashes between January And February 2020

A total of 263 persons in got injured in road crashes in the Central Region between January and February 2020. 68 people also lost their lives in these unfortunate incidents. This is according to the National Road Safety Authority.

The Authority explained that the issue of poor visibility, fatigue and excessive speeding on the part of drivers, are the causes of these accidents.

Speaking to Citi News, the Acting Regional Head of the National Road Safety Authority, Victor Kojo Bilson urged drivers to adhere to road regulations to reduce carnage on our roads.

“Our advice to drivers is for them to adhere to mandated or posted speed limits on our highways. Sometimes, they blatantly ignore these, which end up causing road traffic crashes. As much as possible, drivers should avoid driving fatigued or under duress. In all these, defensive driving is key and we seek to let every driver know that when you do not take care of yourself, you should not expect the other to take care of you,” he noted.

Road crashes in the Central Region in 2020 

January saw one of the most fatal road crashes recorded this year.

Over 30 people were confirmed dead while several others were reported to be in critical condition after an Intercity bus with registration number GR 5704-18 collided head-on with another bus with registration number GN 3780-10 at Dompoase near Elmina in the Central Region.

At Gomoa Antseadze, five persons were confirmed dead, with about 15 others in critical condition in February.

This was after an articulated truck, with registration number AS 8726-10, collided with a Toyota Minibus with registration number GX 3045-18.

National statistics 

Road crashes claimed 2,284 lives in 2019, according to provisional data compiled by the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD).

This marked a significant increase from 2018 where 2,020 persons died on Ghana’s roads.

This would be the highest fatality figure in the last decade if validated by the National Road Safety Commission.

The highest so far was in 2012 where 2,240 people died in road crashes.

Ghana’s least fatal year for road crashes in the last decade was 2015 where 1,802 people died.

The regional breakdown of crashes saw the Greater Accra with 5,483; Ashanti with 3,213; Eastern with 1,212; Western with 1,143; Central with 902, Brong Ahafo with 652, Volta with 593, Northern with 270, Upper East with 254, and Upper West with 155.