The United Nations Global Road Safety Week is marked each year from 17th to 23rd of May and serves as a reminder of the importance of a collective action to prevent road accidents and promote road safety. The annual campaign strives to raise awareness about road safety concerns worldwide and promote effective measures to prevent road accidents.
Recent statistics on worldwide traffic accidents as revealed by the World Health Organization show a consistent and alarming prevalence of accidents that affect millions of people each year and result in substantial financial costs and devastating losses to lives. While exact figures may vary, it is estimated that approximately 1.35 million people die annually due to road accidents, with many more suffering injuries and impairments.
This alarming prevalence of road accidents is linked to factors such as inadequate infrastructure, drunk driving, distracted driving, and faulty vehicles and over speeding among others. To mitigate against the rise in global road accidents, the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021 to 2030) sets the goal of reducing the number of traffic-related deaths and injuries by half by 2030. Achieving this objective requires a revamp of the entire transport system, including driving practices, equipment, and behaviours, as well as improvements in emergency care.
In the context of these global concerns, it is encouraging to note that there has been a decline traffic accident in Ghana. According to preliminary data for January and February 2023 complied by the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service, throughout 2022, the number of crashes decreased steadily by month. By the end of 2022, 14,960 crashes, 15,690 injuries, and 2,373 fatalities were recorded representing a decrease of 7.55 %, 1.54 %, and 20.1 %, respectively, compared to the previous year of 2021.
These figures provide encouraging indication that collective efforts by government and institutions to improve road safety in Ghana may be yielding positive results. The statistics further suggest that initiatives such as education, enforcement, and infrastructural development are making tangible positive impact on road safety in Ghana.
CDS Africa recognises and appreciates the remarkable effort made by stakeholders such as the National Road Safety Authority, the MTTD of the Ghana Police Service, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Government, the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), and the general Ghanaian citizenry. Collectively these stakeholders have been committed to improving traffic safety and encouraging a positive attitude on our roads. It is, however, essential to note that road safety campaigns require continuous efforts to improve and sustain these positive strides.
We also urge government to keep investing in road infrastructure, which has been identified as a key variable in the fight against traffic accidents. Collective effort is required to ensure road safety because it is a shared duty. Another note of caution goes to road users, drivers and pedestrians, to continue to observe all road safety measures, such as drunk driving, distracted driving, disregard of road signs, faulty vehicles and over speeding.
