Tema records 1,432 accidents in 2009

Tema, Feb 26, GNA - A total of 1,432 accidents, involving 3,010 vehicles= , occurred in the Tema Police Region last year. This showed an increase of 125 accidents in the Region, as compared to t= he 1,287 accidents recorded in 2008.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Daniel Ansong-Dankyi, Tema Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) Commander, disclosed this in an intervi= ew with the Ghana News Agency on Thursday. The Region, he said, covered the Tema Metropolis, Ashaiman Municipality,=

Dangme East and West Districts.

DSP Ansong-Dankyi said there was an increase of 85 deaths as a total of 186 people lost their lives through accidents last year as compared to the 10= 1 recorded in 2008. He indicated that a total of 1,345 injuries, made up of 450 and 895 seri= ous and minor injuries respectively, were also documented last year. When compared to the 1,186 injuries recorded in 2008, there was a rise o= f 293 injuries last year. The MTTU Commander said majority of the accidents occurred at the Tema e= nd of the motorway, the Steel Works junction on the Aflao road, and the dual=

carriage way between the motorway junction and harbour road junction. He mentioned, overspeeding, especially on the motorway and the crashing into stationed vehicles as the main causes of accidents. DSP Ansong-Dankyi said the Police Service has introduced the use of the Speed Radial Guns on the road to check over speeding. He disclosed that a series of seminars would soon be organized by the MT= TU for drivers at the various lorry parks in the Region, to educate them on road accident prevention. He said, last year, a total of 400 drivers were prosecuted at the courts=

for various motor traffic offences. DSP Ansong-Dankyi said out of the figure, 311 were convicted to various amounts of fines, while the remaining 89 were still pending before the courts. According to him, GH¢17,913 has accrued from fines imposed on convicte= d drivers. DSP Ansong-Dankyi mentioned overspeeding, overloading, careless and inconsiderate driving and drunk driving, as some of the offences for whic= h drivers were prosecuted. He advised drivers to drive defensively, and be conscious of other road users, including pedestrians, truck pushers, invalids, children and anima= ls, to avoid accidents on the roads.

On challenges his outfit faced, the MTTU Commander said the Unit had som= e logistical problems, including the lack of an official vehicle for the monitoring of drivers' activities in the Region. He said his outfit also lacked adequate reflective jackets and Speed Rad= ial Guns.