Eastern region has high rate of pedestrians knocked down in road accidents

Knocking down of pedestrians by vehicles has been identified as a major challenge in the Eastern Region, as a number of fatalities have increased within the first six months of 2013.

The region recorded a total of 175 pedestrians knocked down from January- June 2013 as against 158 recorded in 2012,  which represents an increase of 10.6 per cent.

Mr Kwasi Tsibu Yirenkyi, Regional Manager of National Road Safety Commission (NRSC)  made this known at the 2013 Mid-Year Performance Review conference of the commission underway in Kumasi.

He said his outfit collaborated with Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) and the Municipal and District and assemblies to construct speed ramps and pedestrian crossings in all the towns and villages where pedestrians knocked downs are high.

The region recorded 779 road crashes cases within the first and second quarters of the year with 125 persons being killed as against 705 cases in 2012 with 169 deaths.

Mr Yirenkyi  said increased presence of the police on the roads, managing road user behaviour, and treatment of identified hazards on the roads, have helped to minimise road crashes and fatalities.

He said weak compliance and enforcement of road traffic regulations and laws are some of the  challenges facing the commission in regard to road safety in the region.

Mr Yirenkyi said during the period under review,  a lot of road safety activities were undertaking in conjunction with Ghana Red Cross Society and Driver Vehicle and Licensing Authority, which included assessing drivers on first aid and emergency management, sensitisation seminar for assemblymen and opinion leaders along crash prone routes and engaging artisans on their role in vehicle safety.

Mr Yirenkyi commended the municipal and district assemblies for their role and support in road safety activities in the region  and specifically mentioned Mr Emmanuel Asirifi, East Akyem Municipal Chief Executive.

Source: GNA