The National Road Safety Commission (NRSC), the agency for managing road safety, has revealed a worrying statistics that suggests that, one thousand and six hundred and thirty –four (1,634) passengers were killed as a result of accidents in 2015.
Out of this number, thirty-five passengers died during the Easter festivities which is usually associated with merry making, seeding and reckless driving.
The said pedestrian and passenger deaths accounts for nearly 65 percent of all road traffic casualties.
The Commission further explained that Ghana is noted for speed driving therebycontributing to60 percent of all road crashes in the country.
The Commission maintained that the speed levels of motorists are a major contributory factor to the severity of the fatalities recorded on the roads.
Speaking at a media briefing ahead of the Easter Festivities on the topic: “Kill the Speed before the Speed Kills You”, Mrs May Obiri-Yeboah, the Executive Secretary of NRSC, together with other members of the Commission observed a minute silence for the passing of DCOP Awuni, the former Eastern Regional Police Commander, who until recently was a Board member and Director-General of Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD).
She said the risk associated with the Easter festivities mirrors the focus campaign of the Commission on issues of safety in the country.
According to her, the Commission has in the past implemented data led campaigns on speeding; fatigue driving, drunk- driving, Helmet use, passenger empowerment and pedestrian safety.
She said the absence of pedestrian walk-ways and jay-walking continue to undermine pedestrian safety.
She explained that the commission wishes to use this year’s Easter celebrations to call on drivers to reduce their speeds for pedestrians to cross the roadsafely.
“ The pedestrian and passenger safety campaign will run all year with various activities thereby reaching out to engage drivers at the lorry terminals, in schools, in churches and the Mosque.
Web shall use both traditional and social media channels to engage policy makers on the need to improve upon the infrastructure”, she said She noted that the Commission has over the years promoted the use of crossing aids known as the Lollipops to help children safely cross the road.
She said this is inline with the President John Dramani Mahama’s address to the United Nations (UN) recently.
She said, since the introduction of last Pedestrian Safety campaign 2013, there has been reduction in pedestrian casualties.
She took the opportunity to thank the managements of De United Foods Industries, Vivo Ghana Limited, Union Savings and Loans and Christian Community Microfinance for showing leadership as good corporate institutions.
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