By Eric Appah Marfo
Accra, April 1, GNA – Mr. Gabriel Adu-Sarpong, Deputy Director of Research at the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), has identified speeding, inattentiveness and loss of control as the top three contributors to road traffic crashes in Ghana.
He said data from the Ghana Police Service indicated that about 90 per cent of road traffic crashes were due to human error, with speeding accounting for between 38 and 40 per cent.
Mr. Adu-Sarpong made the disclosure on Wednesday during a sensitisation exercise along the Aburi–Mampong–Mamfe road in the Eastern Region.
He said speed-related factors contributed to nearly 60 per cent of crashes, implying that about six out of every 10 crashes were linked to speeding.
The exercise forms part of an ongoing Visibility Programme being undertaken by the NRSA in collaboration with the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service to intensify road safety education and enforcement, particularly along high-risk corridors ahead of the Easter festivities.
The nationwide campaign, which began on Monday, March 30, will end on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, and is being carried out on major highways, including Accra–Cape Coast, Accra–Suhum–Kumasi, Accra–Aflao, Akosombo–Ho, Aburi–Akropong, and Accra–Suhum–Bonso.
It targets all categories of road users, namely commercial drivers, private motorists, motorcyclists and pedestrians, with key messages on compliance with speed limits and traffic regulations, the use of seatbelts and helmets, and the avoidance of distracted and impaired driving.
Mr. Adu-Sarpong, who is coordinating the third day of the campaign, said the day’s focus was on speeding, which remained a major risk factor in road crashes.
He urged drivers to adopt defensive driving practices despite poor road conditions and inadequate signage to help reduce road traffic crashes.
“As a driver, you must adapt to the conditions around you. Yes, the roads may be bad, and road signs may be inadequate, but you still have a duty to drive defensively, even as stakeholders continue efforts to improve road infrastructure and signage,” he said.
Mr. Adu-Sarpong explained that defensive driving required motorists to anticipate hazards and adjust their behaviour accordingly, considering road conditions, traffic flow, and the actions of other road users.
“Our focus is on defensive driving because even in the absence of ideal conditions, drivers can still make choices that will prevent crashes,” he said.
Mr. Adu-Sarpong said drivers must also consider the condition of their vehicles, including tyres and braking systems, when determining appropriate speeds.
“Knowing your vehicle’s condition is very important. It should inform your speed. Sometimes the safe speed may even be lower than the posted limit,” he said.
He said although speed limits existed, they represented maximum thresholds and not necessarily safe speeds under all conditions.
Mr. Adu-Sarpong explained that in residential or busy areas such as markets and schools, drivers were expected to limit speed to about 30 kilometres per hour, while on highways passing through settlements, speeds should not exceed 50 kilometres per hour.
He said the maximum speed limit on major highways outside settlements was 90 kilometres per hour, while that of motorways was 100 kilometres per hour.
Mr. Adu-Sarpong said increased vehicular movement during festive periods heightened exposure to risk.
“The more people are on the road, the more they are exposed to risk. That is why we record more crashes during periods like Easter,” he said.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Dr Samuel Sasu-Mensah, Director of Operations at the MTTD, said the exercise was primarily focused on education rather than enforcement.
“We have realised that festive seasons continue to see a spike in road crash incidents and deaths. That is why we are out to educate road users on the need to be cautious,” he said.
ACP Dr Sasu-Mensah said Police personnel would be deployed to Kwahu in the Eastern Region and other identified hotspots during the Easter celebrations to ensure compliance with road safety regulations.
He said enforcement would be sustained beyond the festive period and urged all road users to prioritise safety and celebrate Easter responsibly.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey