Over 1000 lives lost in road crashes this year

Magdalene Teiko Larnyoh 06:22 - 23 September 2016

___5522194___https:______static.pulse.com.gh___webservice___escenic___binary___5522194___2016___9___23___8___crash428

Director of Planning and Programmes at the NRSC, Ing. David Osafo Adonteng said 70 percent of those who have died in road accidents this year were male, with 60 percent being between 18 and 50 years.

The National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) has indicated that 1,406 people have lost their lives through road accidents from January 2016 to August 31, 2016.

This was revealed by the Director of Planning and Programmes at the Commission, Ing. David Osafo Adonteng.

According to the Daily Graphic Newspaper, Ing Osafo Adonteng said the projected number of lives that will be lost in road crashes for this year was 1,440.

Ing. Adonteng explained that globally 1.3 million people did not get back home alive annually, between 1,800 and 2,000 people died in road crashes each year in Ghana.

He said 70 percent of those who died through road accidents were male, with 60 percent being between 18 and 50 years. Children below 16 years were involved in 23 percent of the deaths. He also mentioned that 60 percent of deaths were as a result of over speeding.

He described this trend as worrying and said the numbers could increase if caution is not exercised by road users.

Meanwhile the Director General of the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service, ACP Patrick Adusei Sarpong took a swipe at political parties for their total disregard for road safety regulations.

he lamented.

He said in 2012 which was an election year the department recorded 2,249 deaths and 2,797 pedestrian knockdowns, while the death rate declined in 2015 to 1,634 and pedestrian knockdowns also reduced to 2,121.

“Unfortunately, as we speak now at the end of August this year we have recorded as many as 1,396 deaths when last year it was 1,634. We have also recorded as many as 1,850 pedestrian knockdowns,” he said.