NRSC to install cameras on major roads

Bolgatanga, June 8, GNA - The National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) will in August 2011, install cameras on major roads in the country to check reckless driving.

The roads of major concern are the Accra=96Cape Coast, Accra- Takoradi, Accra-Kumasi, Accra-Ho and Kumasi=96Sunyani roads.

Mr Noble John Appiah, Executive Director of NRSC, said this on Wednesday at the mid year review conference of the Commission in Bolgatanga on the theme: 93Setting the Road Safety Agenda to Save 10,000 lives and 70,000 Injuries by 2020".

He said the period under review had witnessed disturbing road traffic crashes with each claiming as many as 27 to 40 lives.

He said participants would discuss the disturbing trend of road traffic crashes as well as emerging issues and re-energize themselves with a sense of determination to work towards preventing road accidents.

Mr Appiah commended President Atta Mills for being the first sitting President to demonstrate a high sense of commitment towards the Third National Road Safety Strategy for the country for 2011 to 2020.

He called on all to emulate such commitment to promote road safety at all political, traditional and religious levels.

Mr Mark Woyongo, Upper East Regional Minister, said road traffic crashes reduction and prevention remained a shared and collective responsibility, the reason for which government was putting in measures to bring carnage on the roads to the barest minimum.

"Nobody travels with the hope not to reach his destination safely but contrary to this hope, many fail to arrive home safe and alive," he added. Mr Woyongo said many professionals and well meaning people had lost their lives due to road carnage creating orphans, widows and widowers many of whom were bread winners of their families.

He said helmet and seat belts had proven to be the cost effective measure in preventing death and injuries but in spite of evidence of their benefits, most riders, drivers and passengers had refused to use them.

Mr Woyongo called on the law enforcement agencies to institute on the spot fines and ensure that drivers and passengers wore seat belts while motor riders wore helmets to minimise the carnage.

He expressed the hope that the conference would bring experience and ideas to bring sanity on the roads.

The conference involved all regional road safety managers, the police, fire service, Red Cross Society and the Ghana Private Road Transport Union.