B/A records 349 motor accidents

Sunyani, July 29, GNA - Ninety-three persons perished and 748 others seriously injured in 349 motor accidents in the first six months of the year, in

the Brong Ahafo Region.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Paul Wesley Baah, Brong Ahafo Regional Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), who disclosed this to Ghana News Agency, said that 480 vehicles were involved in the accidents.

He said that 75 of the cases were fatal, 104 serious and 170 being minor ones.

ASP Baah said that most of the accidents involved commercial vehicles "whose drivers do not have time to rest and fail to ensure maintenance of their vehicles".

He said that every driver is supposed to rest 30 minutes after every four hours drive but for the quest of money the drivers ignore the rule and continue driving day and night without resting.

ASP Baah said that rate of motor cycle accidents within the period under review was high and most of the riders lost their lives as they failed to wear helmets.

He noted that over speeding, overloading and disobeying traffic regulations were some of the causes of the accidents.

ASP Baah said that the courts imposed a fine of GHC 30,702 on drivers and motor riders that MTTU arrested.

He said that the drivers were charged for operating vehicles with worn out tyres, over speeding, driving with expired licenses, without license, uninsured vehicles and unregistered motor bikes.

ASP Baah advised drivers to obey road traffic regulations to avoid accidents on the roads.