Road accidents keep skyrocketing in Ghana leading to numerous fatalities. Despite efforts to curb the rise in road crashes, accidents continue to claim lives each year. 1,237 people lost their lives in road accidents between January and June 2024 alone, according to the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA). This figure is a 12% increase in road accidents from same period last year.
Why do they occur?
The NRSA attributed many of these fatalities to wrongful overtaking and drivers’ failure to observe traffic signs. The surge in accidents is also due to poor road conditions, inadequate road signage, and weak enforcement of road safety regulations
Most road accidents are caused by the behaviour of drivers. Recalcitrant drivers, who flout and disregard traffic rules, from excessive speeding to reckless overtaking and driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, put themselves, their passengers, and other road users in grave danger. Drivers operating “trotros” and long-distance buses are notorious for their aggressive driving styles. Many engage in dangerous overtaking, which has become a culture on the highways.
Potholes, erosion, and poorly maintained surfaces are also major causes of road accidents, contributing to the accident rate, especially at night, making driving a dangerous risk. Prone highways to accidents include the Accra-Kumasi and the Cape Coast-Takoradi highways. These highways recorded hundreds of deaths in the past few years, often due to reckless driving or bad road conditions.
Another key cause is the disregard for road safety regulations; the indiscipline among bus drivers, motorists, and other commercial road users remains a primary cause of road accidents. Speeding by motorists to beat traffic lights and bus drivers’ reckless overtaking are key causes of road accidents.
What needs to be done?
One missing link is education on road safety, specifically targeting drivers and conductors of commercial vehicles, especially “trotros” and long-distance buses. These drivers often ignore road signs, contributing to their recklessness. Traffic offenses go unpunished, reinforcing the culture of impunity among reckless drivers and at times, offenders bribe their way out.
It is the role of the Ghana Police Service’s Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) to implement traffic regulations, but they are often seen as ineffective in their job. Strict enforcement of laws guiding road regulations, road safety, and driving is necessary, with severe penalties for offenders to curb the recurrence of road accidents. Additionally, improving road conditions is essential.
Road accidents cannot be completely stopped but can be minimized. Solving this menace requires efforts from regulatory agencies, drivers, and enforcement agencies. A sustained approach can protect the lives of Ghanaians on the roads and put an end to blood-stained roads.
References:
1. Ghana News Agency. (2024, July). Road crashes death toll up by over 12 per cent in first half of 2024. https://gna.org.gh/2024/07/road-crashes-death-toll-up-by-over-12-per-cent-in-first-half-of-2024/
2. Pulse Ghana. (2024). 1,237 road accident deaths recorded between January and June 2024. https://www.pulse.com.gh/news/local/1237-road-accident-deaths-recorded-between-january-and-june-2024/1913mqc
3. GhanaWeb. (2024). Over 1000 people killed in road crashes in the first half of 2024 – NRSA. https://mobile.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Over-1000-people-killed-in-road-crashes-in-the-first-half-of-2024-NRSA-1941831
4. My Joy Online. (2024). Road accidents claim over 1,237 lives in the first half of 2024 – NRSA. https://www.myjoyonline.com/road-accidents-claim-over-1237-lives-in-the-first-half-of-2024-nrsa/#:~:text=The%20National%20Road%20Safety%20Authority,failure%20to%20observe%20traffic%20signs.
5. Class FM. (2024). Road accidents kill 1,237 in first half of 2024 – NRSA. https://mobile.classfmonline.com/news/general/Road-accidents-kill-1-237-in-first-half-of-2024-NRSA-53678
6. Asaase Radio. (2024). Upper East Region records reduction in road accident deaths for first half of 2024. https://www.asaaseradio.com/upper-east-region-records-reduction-in-road-accident-deaths-for-first-half-of-2024/?amp=1
The author of this piece, Vincent Doh, is a writer and student at the University of Media, Arts and Communication’s Institute of Journalism (UniMAC-IJ).
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