A TOTAL number of 228 people were killed in road accidents in the Eastern region from January to September, this year, in comparison to 151 people killed during the same period last year.
The Eastern Regional Commander of the Motor Traffic Unit (MTU), Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) John Kwame Amoah, announced this at a road safety campaign held by the region’s road safety campaign at Akim Oda.
He advised drivers to drive with care and not under the influence of alcohol and reminded them that careless driving now attracts a fine of ?5 million or one year imprisonment or both.
DSP Amoah charged drivers to always obey traffic regulations and said that even though the police are not out to witch hunt, the increasing rate of accidents calls for tough measures to be taken in order to redress the situation.
The Akim Oda District Licensing Officer, Mr Godson Wemegah, who attributed some road accidents to the poor eyesight of some drivers, said a new policy has been introduced which requires drivers to have their eyes tested at hospital before their licenses are renewed.
He said after the test those who need spectacles will be made to buy them while those whose eyesight is really bad will have their licenses withdrawn.
the Eastern Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mr Issac Nkrumah, appealed to the various drivers unions to take the necessary steps to instil discipline in their drivers.
He identified impatience and indiscipline among drivers as the major causes of accidents and urged drivers to refrain from all negative activities which may lead to carnage on the roads.
The Akim Oda Divisional Police Commander, Mr Ben H. Asamoah, observed that road accidents claim more lives than HIV / AIDS and appealed for an intensification of road safety campaigns to help combat the situation. He stressed the need for drivers to maintain their vehicles properly at all times.
