Road accidents, killing more than diseases, Daily Graphic

AT LEAST 26,621 lives were lost through road accidents from January 2000 to September 2013, while about 70, 000 people sustained various degrees of injury within the same period.
According to statistics made available by the National Road Safety Commission, 20,503 lives were lost between January 2000 and December 2010 in road accidents that left 63,384 people injured.
On monthly basis, an average of 170 people died and 500 sufferred injuries in the period of the 10years.
Also, in the last two years, about 4,579 lives were lost as a result of road accidents, leaving  more than 6,000 people injured and causing some people permanent injuries.
From January to September this year, 1,539 people had perished, while 9,741 others  were injured in 10,558 reported road crashes nationwide.
The figures mean an average of 171 deaths occurred and 1,082 were injured in 1,113 crashes involving 1,084 vehicles monthly in the last nine months.
“National disaster”
Speaking at the Greater Accra Regional Road Safety Commission Awards, the Executive Director of National Road Safety Commission, Mrs May Obiri–Yeboah, stated  that the issue of road accidents had become a matter of health concern because it killed people even more than diseases.
She said aside the victims, road accidents also caused trauma to the families and dependants of those who perish because most of the victims happen to be breadwinners.
Mrs Obiri–Yeboah sressed on the the need for attitudinal change among drivers and all road users.
Traffic regulations
For his part, the Greater Accra Regional Manager of NRSC, Mr Daniel H. Wuaku,
 described the rate of accidents as a “national disaster”, and asked those in the transport sub-sector to go the extra mile to protect the lives of the travelling public.
With few a weeks to Christmas, Mr Wuaku urged drivers to ensure that their vehicles were road worthy and in good condition.
Assistant Commissioner of Police, (ACP Retd), Victor Tandoh, who chaired the event, urged the authorities, to correct all road defects.
He also encouraged passengers to be watchful and vigilant and alert drivers of their wrongful behaviours.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Regional Police Commander, DCOP Christian Tetteh Yohuno, said the police deployed more personnel on the highway, to ensure safety.