Recklessness by drivers is major cause of road accidents - NGO

Accra, Nov. 28, GNA - Mr Jonathan Padi, Executive Director of the Ghana Society for the Prevention of Road Accidents (GSPRA), a nongovernmental organisation (NGO), said on Monday that most vehicular accidents were caused by the failure of drivers to observe basic driving and road regulations.

Some of these included wrong overtaking, overloading, poor vehicle maintenance, tiredness on the part of drivers due to overwork and sheer irresponsibility.

Mr Padi, who was speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra, said although the Police were doing their best, there was a lot more yet to be done in the campaign to minimise vehicular accidents. He said the task of the Police got even bigger during periods of festivities such as Christmas, adding that such periods often experienced an increase in vehicular accidents.

Mr Padi said during such periods, the mere mood of celebration got some drivers excited, causing them to make careless mistakes, which they would not have made under normal circumstances.

He said some commercial drivers would often drive to places that they were not used to for more passengers and money. Since they usually drove at top speed to make up for time, they were often overwhelmed by sudden and unforeseen dangers.

Mr Padi said some drivers also tried to make more money and overworked themselves, thus becoming tired, less alert and vulnerable to potential accidents.

He said there was the need for the Police to increase their patrols on the roads, especially during Christmas, pointing out that the mere presence of Police personnel was enough to prevent drivers form indulging in irresponsible behaviour.

Mr Padi also urged drivers to be careful during the period, said they should not allow themselves to be taken in by the festivities. He said although his organization had been in existence for some time, it had not been active in the last few years due to a number of reasons.

He said the organization had plans to embark upon vigorous campaigns and exercises to ensure that road accidents were brought to their barest minimum. 28 Nov. 05