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Interference from politicians and opinion leaders is one of the major obstacles hindering the curbing of road accidents, especially in the Upper East Region. This came to light at a meeting of stakeholders of motor traffic and safety in Bolgatanga on Friday. The meeting was aimed at strategizing on how best to curb the spate of road accidents in the area and was organized by the National Road Safety Commission. The stakeholders pointed out that there were many instances where political leaders and opinion leaders interfered by pleading with the security agencies to release motorbikes, which had been seized from traffic offenders. They noted that because of the attitude of politicians and opinion leaders, the security agencies found it difficult to ensure the adherence of the rules regarding road usage. They therefore appealed to the two groups to rather rally behind the security agencies to effectively enforce the laws on the roads to save lives. As part of the strategies, a joint operation team had been constituted, including the Police, Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), District and Municipal Assemblies, Insurance Companies, Transport Unions, the Red Cross and the Media among others to ensure that road users in the region comply with traffic rules and regulations. It would ensure that motor riders wear crash helmets, possess relevant documents, including licenses, insurance policies and roadworthy certificates. Participants also expressed concern about people driving whilst receiving or making telephone calls, saying that, the situation creates accidents and offenders must not be spared when caught. They deplored the springing up of signboards in the Region and said it was one of the causes of road accidents, since most of them were not mounted at the right places and also blocks the view of drivers at junctions. Mr Alexander Ayata, Regional Manager of the Road Safety Commission, said as part of the measures, the stakeholders would embark on a sensitization programmes, using the media, whilst the joint operation team, especially the security agencies, would arrest motorbike offenders. Mr Ayata said for the past six months of this year, about 36 deaths had been reported in the region, majority of them being accidents from motor bicycle and appealed to all stakeholders to get actively involved in the exercise. He said arrangements would also be made to educate such offenders on the rules and regulations on the roads.