Provide speed ramps in towns to prevent pedestrian knockdown

Nana Agyare Dankwa, Nkosuohene of Nkwanda number one in the Kwahu South District, has appealed to the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) and the assembly to construct speed ramps and pedestrian crossings in all the towns and villages along the Accra-Kumasi road to minimize accidents.

He said the number of people who die through road crashes, especially pedestrian knockdown on the Accra-Kumasi road was worrying.

Nana Agyare Dankwa made the appeal at a community sensitization education programme on road safety at Nkwanda number two, a farming community on the Bunso Junction-Nkawkaw road, by the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC).

He commended the GHA for constructing speed ramps in the town which had reduced pedestrian knockdown drastically and urged them to do same for other towns and villages along the road.

Nana Dankwa said broken down vehicles were also mainly responsible for the many road accidents and urged the police to ensure that such vehicles were removed as early as possible before they cause any harm.

The Eastern Regional Manager of the NRSC, Mr Kwasi Tsibu Yirenkyi, said it was unfortunate that drivers continued to over-speed and ignore road traffic regulations in spite of all the educational campaigns.

He advised both pedestrians and drivers to observe road traffic regulations to help reduce road traffic crashes across the country.

Mr Yirenkyi said one major problem confronting them at the moment was pedestrian knock down across the region, adding that, in January this year alone, 33 cases were reported as against 13 in 2012.

He said a lot of measures had been put in place to bring the situation under control and urged the people to be cautious about road safety matters.

Mr Yirenkyi later in an interview with the Ghana News Agency charged the various transport unions operating in the region to, as a matter of urgency organize regular educational programmes for their drivers to observe the 50 kilometer speed limit when driving in towns and villages.

He said that would discourage the communities from erecting unauthorized ramps.

Mr Yirenkyi said one major “gift” that drivers could offer Ghanaians this year was to ensure accident-free roads or drastic reductions to minimize the trauma people went through for losing family members most of whom are bread winners.

He called on all the major stakeholders in the transport sector to strive to eliminate human errors that often led to accidents to ensure a reduction of preventable road crashes.

Mr Agyenim Boateng, Assistant Planning Officer of the NRSC, advised drivers and other road users, especially commercial drivers, against excessive speeding, drunk driving, driving under the influence of hard drugs, non-maintenance of vehicles, driving tired, wrong overtaking, engaging one hand on mobile phones while driving and other unacceptable practices.

Ms Ngyira Apronti, a staff of the Commission, said road safety was a collective responsibility and urged passengers and drivers to always remember to wear their seat belts and to observe traffic regulations.

She cautioned women who sell foodstuffs by the side of the road in the various towns along the highway to be cautious of their safety.