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A total of 169 people lost their lives in 2011 through motor accidents in the Tema region, showing an increase of 56 over the 113 recorded in 2010. The region covers the Tema Metropolis, Ashaiman Municipality, Dangme East and Dangme West districts. Superintendent of Police Oduro Amaning, the Tema Regional Motor Transport and Traffic Unit (MTTU) Commander, told the GNA on Monday that the accidents occurred on the Tema-Aflao motorway and the Tema/Akosombo highway and involved 1,999 vehicle. The MTTU Commander attributed the accidents to increase in vehicles and unqualified drivers, adding that, some of the drivers involved in the accidents used inappropriate licenses to drive vehices they are not supposed to drive. He said his outfit would be embarking on spot checks on some of the major roads in the region and would carry out educational programmes at the lorry stations to remind drivers of their responsibilities as well as road traffic offences. Mr Amaning said motor traffic offences occurring in the region included driving on the shoulders of roads, over speeding, over loading and driving with a photocopy license. He appealed to vehicle owners to desist from taking the licenses of their drivers, saying that, some drivers who use photocopy licenses always gave the excuse that their licenses were with their car owners.