Over 1,000 dead, 8,000 injured in road accidents this year

A total of 1,474 people died nationwide from road accidents and another 8,448 sustained various degrees of injuries between January and November 2015; a marginal drop from last year’s figures.

Last year, 1,713 persons died in road accidents between January and November while11,331 were injured within the same period.

Although the there is a 17.5 percent reduction in road traffic fatalities within the last year, the figure remains high, authorities have told TV3’s Adwoa Konadu Yiadom.

The death and the injuries arose from the 9,904 road accidents recorded nationwide recorded this year within the period. It involved 6,585 commercial and 6,846 private vehicles and 2,074 involved motorbikes.

Twelve thousand cases of motor accidents involving 8,180 commercial and 8,022 private vehicles were recorded between January and November last year.

Also, a total of 1,938 pedestrians were knocked down this year between January and November as against 2014 figure of 2,376.

Road traffic authorities have attributed 95 percent of road traffic crashes to breaches of road safety regulations.

The Director in charge of Education, Research and Training, MTTD, DSP Alexander Kweku Obeng, cited exceeding the speed limits, overloading and failing to wear seatbelts as some road offences contributing to motor accidents.

He asked transport operators to ensure that vehicles that come into their yards are safer vehicles, adding “when they’re embarking on long journeys they should ensure that the drivers wear their seat belts, and the passengers are admonished to wear their seatbelts. We also want the passengers to assist the Police, to nib in the bud, certain moving violations that can endanger their lives."

Meanwhile, the National Road Safety Commission says it is strategising with stakeholders to maintain an accident-free festive season.