a, Aug. 25, GNA – Accidents caused by motor bikes have since 2005 been on the ascendancy in the Wa Municipality, says the Upper West Regional Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service.

Statistics on road accidents made available to the GNA at Wa by the Unit showed that a total of 203 accidents involving motor bikes were reported to the Unit from the Wa Municipality since January 2005 to July 2011.

Out of this figure, 103 persons died and 152 others sustained various degrees of injuries.

In 2005, 16 motor bikes were involved in various accidents killing eight people and injuring 14.

The number of accidents decreased to 13 in 2006 with the number of deaths and injuries also recording a marginal decrease of six and 13 respectively in the same period.

The figure increased to 23 per number of motor bikes involved in 2007 with the number of deaths and injuries also increasing to nine and 18 respectively in the same year.

In 2008, the figures increased again recording 27 accident cases and 15 people dying in the process.

The figures further increased from 30 to 35 in 2009 and 2010 with their respective number of deaths and injuries also shooting up to 19 and 20 as well as 15 and 30.

From January to July 2011, the figures have shot up to 59 per number of motor bikes involved causing 26 deaths and 45 injuries.

The MTTU attributed the increasing rate of accidents to the increase in population which has subsequently led to an increase in the number of motor bikes on the roads.

It further attributed the increase in accidents to the lack of respect for road traffic regulations, lack of defensive driving as well as careless, inexperienced and impatient driving.