Over 1,500 killed between January, September through road accidents

Road accidents have claimed 1,579 lives between January and September this year.

The national road safety action plan had set a target of keeping traffic related deaths at a level not exceeding 1,440.

The national road safety commission projected to keep traffic related deaths at a level not exceeding 1,440 at the beginning of the year.

However, by the end of the third quarter of the year, a total of 1,579 deaths had been reported, exceeding the projected yearly target reduction by 15.7%.

Again, the commission recorded 9,205 road traffic crashes involving 14,342 vehicles, eight thousand and six injuries with 2,086 pedestrian knock-downs.

At a stakeholders review conference, a transport consultant, Dr. Paulina Agyekum said the missed target is due to inadequate funds to support road safety projects.

“The major issue has to do with limited resources. When you’re working with limited resources, you do what you can and that is the situation we find ourselves in. Every agency is managing to do what they can within the resources available.”

The executive director of the commission Mrs. May Obiri-Yeboah said despite the challenges, the commission has made some progress towards the UN’s target on road safety by 2020