Over 2k died in road accidents in one year, higher than three years of Covid-19 deaths

More than 2 thousand died in road accidents in one year, more than three years of Covid-19 deaths

Data released by the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has revealed that 2,589 people died in road accidents between February 2022 and February 2023, which is more than the number of victims of the coronavirus in Ghana.

The age and gender distribution of the data shows that 196 men under the age of 18 died which represents 8% of the deaths. 130 women under 18 died with 5%. 342 women over 18 years died as 13% and 1921 men over 18 years died as 74% of road accidents recorded between February 2022 and February 2023.

The total number of road accident deaths exceeded the number of people who died due to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic three years ago when the country recorded its first case in March 2020. World Health Organization (WHO) data shows that as of February 21, 2023, Ghana has recorded 1,462 died of Covid-19.

According to statistics from the NRSA, there were 6,450 accidents involving commercial vehicles representing 27% of vehicles involved in road accidents. There were 9,017 accidents involving private vehicles representing 30% and 171 motorcyclists involved in accidents representing 43% of motorcycle accidents. This is a total of 21,151 vehicles involved in road accidents in one year.

NRSA is the leading organization in Ghana today that aims to ensure road safety in the country. It is funded through the national budget, and has a partially funded road safety strategy. Coordination, legislation, monitoring, and assessment of road safety initiatives are among the tasks of the agency. The country has set a goal of reducing fatal and non-fatal traffic accidents by 50% between 2011 and 2020.

However, road traffic accidents remain a public health and development challenge in Ghana. According to statistics from the National Road Safety Authority, road accidents are among the 10 leading causes of death, reducing the annual gross domestic product by 1.6%.

Speaking at the Civil Society Organization (CSO) Forum on Road Safety in Accra in October 2022, the West Africa Regional Director of CUTS International, Appiah Kusi Adomako suggested that road safety issues should be considered as a public health hazard because this will allow. Parliament approves more funding for road safety interventions.

The Director of Operations of the Directorate of Motor Traffic and Transport of the Ghana Police Service, Chief Inspector Dr Samuel Sasu-Mensah, also noted that the main contributors to road accidents in the country are drunk driving and speeding. A recent surge in road deaths and injuries has led to calls for stronger policies that focus on road carnage.

In the meantime, The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has implemented a strategy to reduce traffic accidents through the Remain Alive Campaign to encourage drivers to follow traffic regulations.

The authority also added the short code 194 as an additional toll-free number to help law enforcement and related agencies to reduce accidents and other safety issues in the country.

By Deborah Heart Praise

Read the Full Story