On 14th February, as many Ghanaians woke up to celebrate the day set aside for loved ones, it would, unfortunately, be the last day on earth for some Ghanaians.

There was tragic news; a fuel tanker exploded, engulfed several vehicles within a few metres, and burned certain individuals alive.

According to EBSCO Research Starters, death by burning is considered “one of the most painful and even torturous ways to die.”

I wouldn’t wish that for my worst enemy. But the question remains: why have road accidents increased in the last few years, even with the explosion of technology?

I previously tweeted that Ghana missed out on the agriculture and industrialisation boom; we must not miss out on the evolution of technology, even though some individuals maintain that we cannot skip the previous boom and jump onto the tech-ride.

Again, I ask – why have road accidents increased? According to the National Road Safety Authority, 2,949 persons died due to road crashes in 2025 - the highest recorded in 35 years.

I have a strong view that the rise in road accidents is because the government of Ghana allows it to happen.

Why? Because human actions can be very much controlled, especially when it endangers the lives of others, causes unwanted financial expenditures, damages public infrastructure and worst of it all, the emotional damage families of unsuspecting victims – through no fault of theirs – must endure after losing a loved one, which is no joke, talk less of losing them tragically, the scar lives on forever.

Digressing a bit, biblically, God told Adam and Eve specifically not to eat a type of fruit, but ‘man’ disobeyed – this means, there are categories of people who will objectively disobey rules, and until there are stricter punishments, they will forever flout these rules.

Addressing the main elephant here, why do I think the government is culpable? Because they do not want to put measures in place to prevent people from breaking the rules.

The type of measures firstly includes enforcement of vehicles to undergo regular roadworthiness, even stricter for long-haulage and heavy-duty vehicles, because of their purpose.

Another measure is the establishment of speed cameras; break the speed limit more than three times, and you are banned for a minimum of five years from driving.

Having lived in the United Kingdom for a considerable number of years, I know this works like magic. I had a mate who drove through London, around 12 am, with no vehicles on the road.

He got home and texted me his frustration, no vehicle on the road, but he couldn’t overspeed due to traffic enforcement cameras in operation to fine him if he did that.

Numerous studies attribute overspeeding as one of the main causes of road accidents in Ghana. Each week on social media, we see a lot of car owners seemingly driving at top speed for fun, just for the thrill of it, and in unfortunate situations, innocent civilians bear the brunt of this awful behaviour.

Surely, there would be recalcitrant, and that is why it is important to establish fines. Another solution is fixing the streetlights.

The Accra Mayor Linda Ocloo promised to fix the streetlights along the major roads, especially connecting the capital and Central Region through the Mallam-Kasoa stretch, but it remains to be seen when this will be done, as large parts of Accra are still underilluminated.

I could go on and on, but knowing very well majority of these leaders are schooled and live in developed nations, it is shocking that immediate actions have not been taken to curb and drastically reduce accidents on the roads.

It is simple, learn and replicate from successful people. There are several technology-savvy and brilliant engineers in Ghanaian universities – certainly a few can be contracted to build similar infrastructures to solve this menace if it significantly costs to import these.

Additionally, the driving tests are not adequate to test if an individual is capable of respecting road instructions and responding to road hazards.

My driving test in 2019 was conducted at the forecourt of the former trade centre. I vividly recall driving in a circle, and then I was told to reverse through two-part cones on opposite sides.

Finally, I did a quick three-point turn, and I passed. My research indicates, surprisingly, it is simpler now than in 2019.

Learner drivers are instructed to just perform a reverse and forward drive on the premises of certain DVLA centres. How can an instructor rely on that to determine if a driver is prepared for the risky driving noticed on Ghanaian roads?

Compared to the UK, tests are rigorous, and one could fail just by how they react to hazards on the roads. The driving test in Ghana needs to be overhauled.

It is also common knowledge how certain individuals obtain a driver's license through unapproved means. That avenue needs to be shut, and culprits prosecuted. Finally, extensive public education is needed.

A lot of individuals simply drive unnecessarily with full beam headlights on when there is clearly enough visibility on the roads.

This seriously needs to be addressed, and since the majority of drivers already have a license and did not train through the effective channels to understand the purposes of the different vehicle headlights, constant public education is needed in all spoken languages in Ghana.

Technology is gradually improving, and Ghana must not fall behind.

On the bright side, revenues can be generated from individuals who are noncompliant, and moreover, it reduces the human involvement element significantly, thereby reducing potential for corruption.

It creates employment for individuals to monitor, repair, and bill culprits. Ghanaian lives on the road must matter.