Despite the continued national campaign to reduce road deaths, the Central Region experienced a 5.7% increase in road accidents in the last three quarters of this year.

This year, 875 motor accidents were reported between January and October, compared to 828 during the same period in 2021.

The total number of vehicles increased by 10.9 percent, from 1,234 to 1,369.

However, the number of people killed in car accidents decreased slightly from 176 to 163, while the number of people injured increased from 1,169 to 1,260 during the same time period.

The Regional Head of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Ms Linda Affotey-Annang, confirmed this to the Ghana News Agency in Cape Coast.

According to her, commercial vehicles recorded a 6.7 per cent dip in the number of crashes from 579 to 535, while private vehicles and motorcycle crashes surged.

“Road accidents involving private vehicles increased from 430 to 541 and motorcycles also increased from 235 to 293,” she said.

“Pedestrian knock-downs also increased considerably from 168 to 203, while pedestrian deaths decreased from 176 to 163 and injuries jumped from 1,169 to 1,260,” Mrs Affotey-Annang said.

Mrs Affotey-Annang attributed the menace to high speed distracted driving, driving tired, wrong overtaking, and inexperienced drivers at the wheels.

Notwithstanding, she commended the contributions of stakeholders towards preventing road crashes, particularly on the Winneba, Buduburam, Winneba Junction to Mankessim/Cape Coast-Komenda highway, among others.

Going forward, she encouraged drivers to strictly adhere to all directional signages to ensure safety.

“Drivers must be cautious on the road and stop engaging in mobile phone conversations or WhatsApp chatting while driving.”

For pedestrians, she cautioned all to give drivers enough indication of their intention to cross the road, avoid unnecessary obstructions and interference and stay focused when crossing.

She cautioned against the use of phones while crossing at the designated zebra crossing, footbridges, near intersections, junctions and roundabouts.

She pledged the Authority’s continuous commitment to sustaining public education to reduce road carnage in the months ahead with the tagline ‘Stop the devil’s work.’

She said the Authority would help reduce road threats to all users as part of its mandate to ensure safety.