W/R NRSC acquires 'Lollipops' for crossing

The Western Regional Office of the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) has acquired 10 pedestrian crossing aids popularly called “Lollipop” stands to assist in the safety of school children using Zebra Crossings in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis.

It is aimed at reducing pedestrian knockdowns, especially school children and to make the road safe for all road users.

The Regional Manager of the Commission, Mr. Samuel Obeng Asiamah, said at a stakeholders’ meeting in Takoradi that some volunteers had been recruited to assist the school children cross the pedestrian crossing points at the initial stages and later, the children would be allow to cross themselves.

He expressed concerns about dysfunctional traffic lights in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis and entreated the Urban Roads Department to fix them, to prevent further accidents.

According to road statistics available to the NRSC, 58 deaths were recorded in the first quarter, 36 and 38 in the second and third quarter respectively.

In terms of pedestrian knockdowns, 43 were recorded in the first quarter while 24 and 49 were recorded in the second and third quarter respectively.

In all, 189 road crashes were recorded in the Region involving 124 commercial, 105 private vehicles and 28 motorbikes.

There were 112 minors involved in motor accidents with 133 persons sustaining various degrees of injuries.