Road crashes in Ghana fell by 9.48% in September, according to the Director of Education, Research and Training at the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), ACP Alexander Kwaku Obeng.

He attributed the decline to intensified police enforcement measures, including the increased issuance of electronic violation and caution notices to motorists from September 10 to discourage speeding.

“I can report that in September, there were reductions of 9%, 9.48%, almost 10%. Vehicles that were involved for the first time reduced by 12.19%, and motorcycle, it has never seen any reduction, reduced by 7.14%, injuries have reduced by 15%, it has never happened and those who are killed reduced by 7.82%.”

According to him, the measures contributed to a decline in crashes involving vehicles and motorcycles, as well as injuries and fatalities recorded during the month.

Police data cited by him showed that reported road crashes decreased by 9.48% in September, while the number of vehicles involved in crashes fell by 12.19%.

Motorcycle-related crashes also declined by 7.14%, while road injuries decreased by 15% and fatalities fell by 7.82% during the month. Meanwhile, the National Road Safety Authority’s (NSRA) automated traffic law enforcement programme, TRAFFITECH-GH, which will be launched on Sunday, November 1.

The programme has been designed to assist the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) to detect traffic offences on the country’s roads through cameras and Personal Data Assistant (PDA) devices.

Vehicle owners or drivers will be auctioned after their offences are reviewed by the Electronic Notices of Violation (ENV).The system forms part of the National Road Safety Authority’s efforts to curb vehicular accidents and road traffic offences.

According to the Director of Education, Research and Training at the MTTD, ACP Alexander Kwaku Obeng, the introduction of a technology-driven traffic enforcement system, TraffiTech-GH, will not replace police presence on the roads.

Addressing the media on Wednesday, August 26, ACP Obeng, disclosed that the system has rather been designed to assist the police. He added that, “It doesn't necessarily mean that police physical presence will not be there."

“Visibility will be there, first of all, even in the case that there are certain instances that we need police to be controlling the traffic”.

Meanwhile, the NRSA has warned that abandoned vehicles on roads that are not promptly towed will be auctioned by the government.

As part of the initiative, vehicle owners will be required to subscribe to a towing service or obtain an insurance policy that includes towing cover.

According to NSRA, owners will be given even days’ notice before the auction takes place after the vehicle has been abandoned for 21 days.

Addressing the media, the Director of Registration, Inspection and Compliance at the NRSA, Kwame Koduah Attuahene, noted that the upcoming system would not exclude motorists, adding that vehicles must be towed immediately.

“The law is that every vehicle owner will be required to subscribe to a towing service company or buy an insurance policy that has a towing service tied to it. Once your vehicle breaks down, the law now requires that you immediately have it towed. In the old law, it gave you a 30-minute or one-hour grace period, but now the law is that as soon as you break down, you must have your vehicle towed.

“Once your vehicle breaks down, the law now requires that you immediately have it towed. In the old law, it gave you a 30-minute or one-hour grace period, but now the law is that as soon as you break down, you must have your vehicle towed.

“After 21 days, you will be auctioned. You have seven days’ notice before the sale. And where the sale is unsuccessful, the state will confiscate the vehicle and possibly scrap it,” he said.