Central Region records increases in motor accident deaths this year

Central Region records increases in motor accident deaths this year October 2,2012 One-hundred and sixty-two people died through motor accidents in the Central Region from January to September, an increase of 150 last year. Superintendent of Police Paul Aduhene, the Regional Commander in charge of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit, said this on Monday at a drivers’ unions award ceremony held in Cape Coast on the theme “sustainable growth in the road transportation system: the role of road safety”. It was organized by the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) with the aim to motivate commercial drivers to be more vigilant to help reduce road accidents. Giving statistics on road crashes in the Region from January to September 2011, Aduhene said 727 accidents occurred compared to 752 this year involving 545 commercial vehicles compared to 660 this year. Motor bike accidents also increased from 77 to 90 this year. The Metro Mass Transport Limited was adjudged the best and received the first prize, followed by the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and the Co-operative Transport Union at the Pedu-junction being third with the fourth position going to the operators of Ford buses Franchol, Transport Services. They were presented certificates, books on the road act and regulations and warning triangles. The award-winning transport organizations will have some of their members receive training by the Commission. The Regional Manager of the NRSC, Mr. Stephen Anokye, said road traffic accidents was ranked ninth in the world and if nothing was done about it that position will shift to third by 2020. He therefore tasked all stakeholders to join hands with the Commission to help reduce road accidents in the country. Mr. Francis Donkoh, the coordinator of driving schools in Cape Coast, appealed to drivers to be more careful and vigilant by focusing on concentration, observation, anticipation and tolerance. Source:http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/religion/artikel.php?ID=252002

Police Commander hails decline in road accidents

Police Commander hails decline in road accidents By GNA Juaso (Ash), Sept 20, GNA - The Asante-Akim South District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Samuel Sandow Latebu has described as refreshing the sharp decline in accidents on the Yawkwei - Nadieso stretch of the Accra-Kumasi Highway. This section of the road is an accident black spot and over the years had claimed many lives. DSP Latebu told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that six car crashes, with one death, occurred there within the third quarter of this year compared to the same period the previous year, which recorded 12 crashes with four killed. The second quarter of 2011 saw 32 accidents with four fatalities at the very spot and this dropped to 12, and two lives lost, in 2012. In the first quarter there were 13 accidents as against the last year's 20 cases. DSP Latebu said the stepped up road safety campaign was paying off and expressed the hope that the downward trend would continue especially as the Christmas season approached. He urged drivers to observe road traffic regulations and avoid speeding to help reduce the carnage. GNA: http://www.modernghana.com/news/419308/1/police-commander-hails-decline-in-road-accidents.html

ONE KILLED IN GRAPHIC ROAD ACCIDENT

One killed in Graphic Road accident Published on October 15, 2012 Accident One person has been confirmed dead by the police after a 207 Benz bus fell off the newly constructed Bus Rapid Transit over the railway line on the Graphic Road. Seventeen people including the driver sustained various degrees of injuries in the accident that occurred on Monday morning. The Director for Education, Research and Training at the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Police Service, ASP Alex Obeng told Citi News the body of the deceased has been deposited at the Police Mortuary. He advised motorists, especially drivers who use the yet-to-be completed over-head to ply the road with caution. “If you speed and you get there, if you are not careful, you are likely to cause an accident and kill people. My concern is that most car owners do not verify if the drivers are qualified to drive so they are advised to check their [drivers’] licenses before giving their commercial vehicles to them,” he stated. He added: “This driver is 24 years old and [a person of such age] is not supposed to drive a commercial vehicle.” Source: Citifmonline http://www.dailyguideghana.com/?p=63804

US$410m lost annually through road accidents

Source: http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=241301 JUNE 2012 Mr. Daniel Wuaku, Brong–Ahafo Regional Director of National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) on Wednesday advised the public not to politicize road safety measures in the nation’s interest. He said such interventions were periodically carried out by stakeholders to reduce the spate of road accidents in the country. Mr. Wuaku, who was speaking at the first general meeting of the Brong – Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs for this year in Sunyani, said 410 Million US dollars was lost by the country annually through road accidents. He explained that road safety measures were as important as decongestion exercises, which were occasionally carried out by city authorities and the Police to prevent hawkers and traders from doing businesses in prohibited and restricted areas. Mr. Wuaku stressed that about 10,742 people had lost their lives between 1991 and 2000, whilst 2,330 people died from various road accidents in 2011. Mr. Wuaku said the Ashanti, Greater Accra and Brong–Ahafo Regions came first, second and third respectively on the list of regions with the highest cases of road accidents in the country. He added “Records show that the Brong – Ahafo Region is fast becoming one of the dangerous destinations to travel to.” He said within the first quarter of 2012, 150 cases were reported, of which 60 people lost their lives to road accidents whilst 269 people were injured during the period. Mr. Wuaku mentioned indiscipline on the roads and apathy on the part of the general public as some of the causes of road accidents in the country. He said inadequate personnel and logistics were some of the major challenges confronting the Commission in the region. Mr. Wuaku appealed to the chiefs to support road safety campaigns, and proposed the establishment of a regional road safety fund to promote such initiatives.**

VIRGINIA and US ROAD ARTICLES

April 8,2012: Virginia Breathalizer:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/is-vas-ignition-interlock-rule-for-first-time-dui-offenders-too-tough/2012/04/08/gIQAmFhd4S_story.html?hpid=z3

Advocates in Virginia: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/23/AR2007032301581.html

VA Road Safety Laws Signed by Gov Kaine:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/23/AR2007032301581.html





State Department Road Safety:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1179.html

Advocates for Highway and Auto safety;
http://www.saferoads.org



IIHS:
http://www.iihs.org/


NHTSA: http://www.nhtsa.gov/

UN Making Roads safe

National Road Safety Foundation:
http://www.nrsf.org/

VDMV

MADD

SADD


ARTICLES:
4.10.2012: Shell Oil Nigeria partners up for safe roads: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/04/road-accidents-shell-partners-frsc-on-safety/

4.10.2012: Las Vegas Roads Deaths:
http://www.8newsnow.com/story/17367552/safety-tips-can-prevent-traffic-fatalities



GAMES FOR KIDS;
THINK:
http://talesoftheroad.direct.gov.uk/

3 DEAD - AGOGO ROAD ACCIDENT

Source:
http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=234629

Victims of Agogo Police fatal accident responding to treatment

MARCH 31, 2012 --

Victims of Saturday’s tragic accident in which three police officers and a civilian died at Agogo in the Asante Akim North Municpal are responding to treatment, doctors at the Komfo Anokye Hospital say.

The policemen were on the way to the cemetery to burry a dead colleague shot by armed robbers in Kasoa in the Central region when the driver of a police Toyota Pick-Up lost control of the car.

Agogo District Commander, DSP Nana Yawson who was seated at the front and the driver of the Pick Up sustained injuries.

Doctors at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital’s Accident and Emergency Center say all the ten male survivors are in stable condition, responding to treatment.

Majority of them sustained head injuries, one being very serious; others had fractured limbs and hands.

The deceased policemen have been identified as Lance Corporals Felix Owusu, also known as Last Killer from Northern region, Shaibu Alhassan and one Sule stationed at the Konongo Police station.

Their bodies have been deposited at the Agogo Presbyterian Hospital morgue.

Source:

Zimbabwe- at least 18 dead

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/26/zimbabwe-bus-crash_n_1380105.html


HARARE, Zimbabwe -- State radio says 18 people died and another 28 were seriously injured after a bus plunged from a mountain road in eastern Zimbabwe and slammed into an embankment of rock.

State radio reported Monday the passengers were all members of a Christian Apostolic sect traveling to a traditional Passover service of worship on Sunday in the Nyanga district, about 160 miles (250 kilometers) northeast of Harare.

It said several of the injured were in a critical condition. The 26-seater carrying 46 passengers veered off the highway at the same "black spot" where 89 people died in 1991, one of the worst crashes on record.

Bus crashes are common in Zimbabwe and are blamed on overcrowding of vehicles, speeding, poor maintenance and shortages of replacement tires.