Road crashes surge in Ashanti

Road crashes in the Ashanti Region soared slightly in July to September from last year’s figure of 334 to 352 representing 94.9 per cent.

Out of this 52 were fatal and 100 deaths were recorded.

Chief Superintendent of Police Peter Gyimah, the Ashanti Regional Commander for Motor Transport and Traffic Unit (MTTU), told the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi on Friday that commercial vehicles recorded the highest with the figure 247, followed by private vehicles which recorded 166, motorbikes accidents were 69 whilst 53 constituted pedestrian knockdowns.

He attributed the cause of this to speeding and wrong overtaking and explained that the roads become slippery during the rainy season, wet tyres therefore affected the brakes.

Mr Gyimah said as part of proactive measures to stem the tide,the police together with the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC), had provided the police with a speed detecting device, Speeders, also known as Radar Guns and Alcometres: a device for detecting drivers driving under the influence of alcohol.

Added to this, the police are also liaising with driving schools in the Region to educate learner drivers to comply with road traffic regulations, he said.