ASHANTI RECORDS LESS CASES OF ROAD ACCIDENTS

Ashanti region recorded a total of one thousand and 64 road accidents last year compared with the reported cases of one thousand, 232 in 2014. 

The difference represents a 13 point-eight percent in road crashes in the region in 2015. 

Most importantly, the number of persons who died through the accidents substantially declined from 250 in 2014 to 163 last year indicating a 38 point-eight percent reduction within the one year period. 

To assure a further decline in the figures, the National Road Safety Commission intends to undertake various strategies to conscientize the public on the need to adhere to good road use. 

The Ashanti Regional Manager of the NRSC, Mr. Samuel Asiamah, made these known at an interaction with the media in Kumasi. 

The National Road Safety Commission, NRSC, has drawn a 10-year strategic plan spanning 2011 and 2020.

 By the plan, the NRSC aims to reduce road fatalities to less than one thousand nationwide by the end of 2020. 

As part of the tactics in achieving the target, NRSC has tasked each of its 10 regional secretariats to also set annual objectives on how to reduce road accidents and the attendant problems. 

The Ashanti regional secretariat has since been working very hard to meet its set goals. Comparing the road traffic accidents of last year to those of 2014 show that the secretariat is on course towards achieving the set target. 

For instance, while one thousand, 232 road accidents were recorded in the region in 2014, one thousand and 64 occurred last year representing 13 point-six percent reduction in the cases. 

Pedestrian knock downs also saw a 16 percent reduction from the 2014 cases of 233. Significantly too, while 250 persons died from road accidents in 2014, 163 person were killeddied in road carnages last year representing a 38 point-eight percent. 

There was also a 35 percent reduction in the number of persons injured through road traffic last year from the  2014 figure of one thousand, 423 cases. 

The region realized a consistent reduction in the total cases of road accidents in the region through the four quarters relative to the quarterly targets. Analysis of the cases indicated that  motorcycles and tricycle crashes increased from 223 in 2014 to 485 last year forming a chunk of the overall road accident cases in the region.

 Asawase, Aboabo and other communities within the Asokore Mampong Municipality were the areas where more motorcycle and tricycle accidents occurred. 

The trunk roads including the Kumasi-Anwiankwanta, Kumasi-Offinso and  Kumasi-Konongo highways also recorded most of the fatal accidents. 

What is worrying is the fact that while motorcyclists refuse to wear crash helmet, their colleagues behind the steering wheels continue to stay away from seatbelts for reasons yet to be established. 

These are part of the reasons why the NRSC Ashanti Regional Secretariat has resolved to increase public awareness on the safest use of the roads to further reduce carnage. 

One of the Secretariat’s strategies is to also mount political platforms of all the political parties during this year’s electioneering to espouse its campaign christened‘Lose Your Life; Lose Your Vote’. 

 Mr. Samuel Asiamah, said religious organizations and the media will also be a critical platform to carry out the message on road safety.