The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has urged all road users to prioritise safety and adhere to road regulations during and after the festive season, in order to prevent lawlessness and misconduct on the roads.
This call comes in the wake of provisional data from the Ghana Police Service, which indicate that from January to October 2023 there have been 11,694 reported cases of road crashes – resulting in 12,678 persons injured and 1,839 persons killed.
Despite these alarming figures, there has been a reduction in the number of road crashes, injuries and deaths compared to the same period in 2022, noted Acting Director General-National Road Safety Authority, Ing. David Osafo Adonteng.
The NRSA reports a 7 percent decrease in road crashes, a 3.36 percent decrease in injuries and a 7.4 percent decrease in deaths. This positive trend, according to Ing. Adonteng, is a result of collective efforts by various stakeholders in the road safety management chain.
Commending stakeholders who have been at the forefront of fighting the menace of road traffic crashes, he said: “We hereby commend all stakeholders in the road safety management chain, especially the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Authority (DVLA); Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service; Road Agencies – GHA, DUR and DFR; National Ambulance Service; Ghana Red Cross Society; and Ghana National Fire Service, as well as public and private organisations, CSOs and the media”.
Speaking at a press briefing, he emphasised that road safety is a shared and collective responsibility; therefore, all road users should play their part in ensuring safety on the roads.
At the briefing, the NRSA launched the 2023 road safety campaign under the theme ‘Stop Speeding – Stay Alive’ with the aim of raising awareness and promoting safe practices among motorists, pedestrians and all other road users.
The campaign will focus on educating road users about the importance of obeying traffic laws, wearing seat belts, avoiding speeding and refraining from driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Additionally, the NRSA will work to improve road infrastructure and enhance emergency response services to minimise the impact of road crashes.
As part of the campaign, the NRSA will collaborate with various stakeholders to organise road safety workshops, seminars and outreach programmes aimed at educating the public about safe road practices. They will also leverage traditional and digital media platforms to disseminate road safety messages and engage with the public.
The NRSA is calling on all Ghanaians to join hands in promoting road safety and reducing the number of road crashes, injuries and deaths. They believe that with concerted efforts and collective responsibility, it is possible to create safer roads for everyone.
They are urging all road users to prioritise safety and comply with road regulations to prevent further loss of lives on Ghana’s roads.
