By Emmanuel Gamson
Takoradi, Dec. 18, GNA – Provisional statistics from the Western Regional office of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), has revealed a decline in the number of road traffic crashes recorded in the region for the first three quarters of the year.
The report showed that between January and September this year, a total of 559 crashes were recorded as compared to 782 within same period in 2024, representing a percentage decrease of 39.89 per cent.
A breakdown of the number of cases reported for the period under review indicated that minor crashes dominated with 40.61 per cent, with serious and fatal contributing 35.78 per cent and 31.61 per cent respectively.
Per the records, the total number of persons killed declined by 33.11 per cent from 201 last year to 151 in 2025, while, those injured also reduced from 573 last year to 397 for this year, representing a percentage decrease of 44.33 per cent.
The records said pedestrian knockdowns reduced by 4.17 per cent in 2025 with 96 cases as against 100 in 2024.
It showed that the number of vehicles involved in road crashes in 2025 declined marginally by 3.84 per cent from 864 last year to 832 in 2025.
The distribution revealed that between January and September, road traffic crashes involving private vehicles were the highest in the region with 321, commercial vehicles recorded 309, and motorcycles/tricycles accounted for 202 of the total cases recorded.
Mr Victor Kojo Bilson, Western Regional Head of the NRSA, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that despite these significant reductions, the Authority still deemed the figures unacceptable as lives and property were being destroyed through preventable road traffic crashes.
He said human factors such as over-speeding, distractive driving, alcohol and substance abuse, fatigue, among others were the leading causes of road traffic crashes in the region.
“Engineering also plays a key role with respect to safety on our roads, hence the need for relevant authorities/agencies to effectively execute and maintain road infrastructure in the region to prevent these avoidable crashes,” Mr Bilson stated.
With respect to motorcycles and tricycles, the Western Region NRSA Head, noted that riders’ gross disregard for traffic laws and regulations continued to play a worrying part to the high crashes and its related deaths and injuries especially at junctions and intersections.
He noted that his office would continue to embark on educational and coordinated compliance operations with other stakeholders to help reduce and reverse the trend in the region.
Mr Bilson also encouraged drivers and all road users to obey safety rules and regulations to help prevent accidents on the roads before, during, and after the Christmas festivities.
GNA
Edited by Justina Paaga/George-Ramsey Benamba