Christmas is here again, with all the excitement and anxiety in the air.
We are excited because the occasion once again lends itself to merrymaking.
But many parents are in a state of anxiety because they have to dig
deep into the family budget to provide clothing and special food items
for their children.
Workers are also disturbed. They examine their budgets for the Xmas
festivities, while making sure that the December pay cheques cater for
their children’s school fees in January.
Traders are also experiencing mixed feelings, as the long human and
vehicular traffic in the central business districts of the commercial
centres do not necessarily translate into sales.
Commuters are also worried because at this time of the year transport challenges rear their ugly heads.
The common sight is long queues at the transport terminals due to the
rush by travellers to get to their destinations to either shop or get
to their home towns for the celebrations.
This is one period when accident rates go up because of the rush on
the roads. Commercial drivers are eager to take advantage of the
increased human activities to maximise sales, and in so doing they
disregard road traffic regulations, resulting in accidents.
Statistics from the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) indicate
that more and more people are losing their lives to accidents on the
road. The reason for this sad development is not far-fetched, as it is
on record that about 90 per cent of road accidents are caused by human
error.
The latest figures released by the NRSC indicate that 26,621 lives
were lost through road accidents from January 2000 to September 2013.
This figure although, spanning a 13-year period, is quite
frightening, making road accidents one of the major causes of death in
the country.
It is also said that Ghana must be competing for the top spot on the
list of the most road accident endemic country on the continent.
The Daily Graphic is of the belief that this country can experience accident-free Christmas, or that if there will be accidents, they will be too minor to be of concern to anybody.
At this time of the year, drivers drive at top speed and, by so
doing, they disregard traffic regulations. They also overtake at
unauthorised places, speed and leave breakdown vehicles on the roads.
Again, in their excitement and the mood of the season, some drivers drive under the influence of alcohol.
The Daily Graphic appeals to the police to desist from turning road
checks into ‘cocoa seasons,’ when they allegedly extort money from
drivers.
Meanwhile, the Daily Graphic calls on drivers and transport operators
to ensure safety on our roads during the Christmas festivities.
Furthermore, we appeal to all road users to heed the advice of the
President to speak up against reckless driving to make road transport a
pleasurable experience.
Culled from graphic.com.gh / editorial
Monday, 23 December 2013
Road Accidents Killing More Than Diseases!
At least 26,621 lives were lost through
road accidents from January 2000 to September 2013, while about 70, 000
people sustained various degrees of injury within the same period.
According to statistics made available by the National Road Safety Commission, 20,503 lives were lost between January 2000 and December 2010 in road accidents that left 63,384 people injured.
On monthly basis, an average of 170 people died and 500 suffered injuries in the period of the 10years.
Also, in the last two years, about 4,579 lives were lost as a result of road accidents, leaving more than 6,000 people injured and causing some people permanent injuries.
From January to September this year, 1,539 people had perished, while 9,741 others were injured in 10,558 reported road crashes nationwide.
The figures mean an average of 171 deaths occurred and 1,082 were injured in 1,113 crashes involving 1,084 vehicles monthly in the last nine months.
“National disaster”
Speaking at the Greater Accra Regional Road Safety Commission Awards, the Executive Director of National Road Safety Commission, Mrs May Obiri–Yeboah, stated that the issue of road accidents had become a matter of health concern because it killed people even more than diseases.
She said aside the victims, road accidents also caused trauma to the families and dependants of those who perished because most of the victims happened to be breadwinners.
Mrs Obiri–Yeboah sressed on the the need for attitudinal change among drivers and all road users.
Traffic regulations
For his part, the Greater Accra Regional Manager of NRSC, Mr Daniel H. Wuaku, described the rate of accidents as a “national disaster”, and asked those in the transport sub-sector to go the extra mile to protect the lives of the travelling public.
With a few days to Christmas, Mr Wuaku urged drivers to ensure that their vehicles were road worthy.
Assistant Commissioner of Police, (ACP Retd), Victor Tandoh, who chaired the event, urged the authorities, to correct all road defects.
He also encouraged passengers to be watchful and vigilant and alert drivers of their wrongful behaviours.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Regional Police Commander, DCOP Christian Tetteh Yohuno, said the police deployed more personnel on the highway, to ensure safety.
Culled from graphic.com.gh
According to statistics made available by the National Road Safety Commission, 20,503 lives were lost between January 2000 and December 2010 in road accidents that left 63,384 people injured.
On monthly basis, an average of 170 people died and 500 suffered injuries in the period of the 10years.
Also, in the last two years, about 4,579 lives were lost as a result of road accidents, leaving more than 6,000 people injured and causing some people permanent injuries.
From January to September this year, 1,539 people had perished, while 9,741 others were injured in 10,558 reported road crashes nationwide.
The figures mean an average of 171 deaths occurred and 1,082 were injured in 1,113 crashes involving 1,084 vehicles monthly in the last nine months.
“National disaster”
Speaking at the Greater Accra Regional Road Safety Commission Awards, the Executive Director of National Road Safety Commission, Mrs May Obiri–Yeboah, stated that the issue of road accidents had become a matter of health concern because it killed people even more than diseases.
She said aside the victims, road accidents also caused trauma to the families and dependants of those who perished because most of the victims happened to be breadwinners.
Mrs Obiri–Yeboah sressed on the the need for attitudinal change among drivers and all road users.
Traffic regulations
For his part, the Greater Accra Regional Manager of NRSC, Mr Daniel H. Wuaku, described the rate of accidents as a “national disaster”, and asked those in the transport sub-sector to go the extra mile to protect the lives of the travelling public.
With a few days to Christmas, Mr Wuaku urged drivers to ensure that their vehicles were road worthy.
Assistant Commissioner of Police, (ACP Retd), Victor Tandoh, who chaired the event, urged the authorities, to correct all road defects.
He also encouraged passengers to be watchful and vigilant and alert drivers of their wrongful behaviours.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Regional Police Commander, DCOP Christian Tetteh Yohuno, said the police deployed more personnel on the highway, to ensure safety.
Culled from graphic.com.gh
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