Road crash fatalities reduce in Ashanti

The Ashanti Region has seen a sharp decline in road clash fatalities and this is said to have been achieved largely through stepped-up safety education campaign combined with strict enforcement of the law.

The region recorded 39 deaths during the third quarter of the year - down from last year’s same period total of 100, representing a 62 per cent reduction.

Mr. Samuel Obeng Asiamah, the Regional Manager of the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC), who made the figures available to the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi, said the number of vehicles involved in the crashes also significantly dropped.

Three hundred and thirty-seven (337) vehicles crashed, this year, compared with the 2014 figure of 482.

Pedestrian knockdowns was however, unchanged and stood at 53.

Mr. Obeng-Asiamah said the achievement would not make them complacent but rather inspire them to work hard to sustain the momentum.

The NRSC together with the police and other stakeholders, would continue to work with renewed energy and zeal to make the roads safe for everybody.

All road users - motorists, travelers and pedestrians would be helped to respect road traffic laws.

He described as a right step the construction of humps, rumble strips and roundabouts on major roads running through the region by the Ghana Highways Authority (GHA) and the Department of Urban Roads (DUR).

That, he noted, had tremendously assisted to check speeding and said this was “a healthy development”.

Mr. Asiamah reminded drivers to put premium on safety and avoid anything that could lead to the loss of lives, broken bones and cuts.

He announced plans to ensure that unregistered motorbikes were taken off the road as a safety measure.