909 Killed, 5,703 Injured In 5,465 Crashes As At May Ending, Death Rate Reduced By 14%

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Road accidents other than other popular illnesses are great concerns of the nation as numerous and potential lives are lost through the crashes.

What would have been a total jubilation by the citizenry of Ghana was no records of motor crashes. However, barely a day goes by without recording an accident which would be attributed to various factors, most of which are overspeeding, driving under the influence of alcohol, careless driving just to mention a few.

However, the first five months in the year 2020 which has left an indelible mark in the globe due to the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus pandemic, has recorded one of the least road crashes in the country.

Since January 1 to May 31 2020, Ghana has recorded a total of 5,465 road crashes with 909 death, injuring 5,703 in the whole incidence and it’s reported to be a reduction in death rate by 14%.

This was reported in a release by the Ghana National Road Safety Authority today, June 11 2020.

This is more dangerous and it’s claiming more lives than the coronavirus pandemic in Ghana though the death rate is reduced.

Below is the release from the National Roadsafety Authority;

ROAD TRAFFIC DEATHS DECLINE BY 14% AS AT END OF MAY 2020

Road Traffic Crashes and its resultant fatalities and injuries have declined in the first five months of the year 2020. Provisional statistics on road traffic crashes from January to May, 2020 indicates that a total of 5,465 crashes involving 9,163 vehicles were recorded resulting in 958 incidents of pedestrian knock downs, 909 fatalities and 5,703 injuries. The breakdown is as follows:

January

February

March

April

May

Total

Cases Reported

1,191

1,111

1,192

891

1,080

5,465

Vehicle Involved

1,998

1,875

2,002

1,452

1,836

9,163

Commercial 

717

713

741

534

710

3,415

Private

853

763

816

540

691

3,663

Motorcycles

428

399

445

378

435

2,085

Pedestrians Knocked Down

218

208

197

146

189

958

Persons Killed

222

171

202

143

171

909

Persons Injured

1,396

1,183

1,220

871

1,033

5,703

Compared to the same period in 2019, this years situation represents a reduction in cases reported, vehicles involved, pedestrian knockdowns, fatalities and injuries by 5.22%, 2.54%, 25.27%, 14.49% and 3.47% respectively. However, there was a 12.64% increase in fatalities involving motorcycle users over the same period. 

Though the reductions can be partly attributed to the reduced motorization due to the lockdown policy of government as a result of the outbreak of covid-19, the Authority did not relent on its 

road safety education and advocacy programmes together with the Media and Civil Society Organisations as well as complimentary efforts in Enforcement of road traffic regulations by the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and other stakeholders through engineering and emergency response in the period under consideration.

While the relative reduction is encouraging, the number of fatalities and injuries through road traffic crashes are still high. The Authority cautions drivers to minimize their travel speeds and avoid wrongful overtaking, driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs and driving tired. Pedestrians are also advised to cross the roads at designated/safe points. Passengers must wear seatbelts and speak up against driver misbehaviour in traffic and Motorcycle riders and pillion riders must always wear their crash helmets when in traffic and stop on red at signalized intersections. 

With the rains setting in, it is very crucial for vehicle owners to ensure that their vehicles have very good tyres, wipers, lights and are roadworthy.    

By: Nana Gyasi|Radio 1 | Ghana