By Muniratu Akweley Issah
Accra, Dec. 16, GNA – Motorcycle fatalities constituted 34 per cent of all road traffic crashes in 2021, Mr. Daniel Wuako, Director of Planning at the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), has said.
He said the contribution of motorcycle fatalities to national road traffic fatalities had seen over 400 per cent increase over the past 10 years.
The Director of Planning and Programmes made the disclosure at a Town Hall meeting with motorcycle Riders, organised by the NRSA and CUTS International in Accra.
He said although motorcycles had become necessary due to an increase in population as well as filling the gaps in the transport system, their activities continued to cause nuisance on the roads.
Chief Superintendent Alexander Obeng, Public Affairs Director of the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), revealed that 6,166 motorcycles were involved in road traffic crashes from January to December 2021 with 1,282 deaths.
He noted that the figures were being recorded due to indiscipline, intolerance, speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol, inexperience and unlicensed riders and making phones calls whiles driving.
The MTTD Public Affairs Director said the Police Action Against Indiscipline (PAARI) operations, popularly known as operation PAARI would be intensified to ensure discipline and respect for road traffic regulations.
Dr. Abigail Marnah, Medical Director of Accident Centre, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, said most of the accidents received at the facility were mostly young people where are not trained, not responsible and indisciplined.
She said accidents had now been declared a public health emergency as many lives were lost daily.
“The facility has become overwhelmed with the increasing number of accidents. We are recording too many deaths in a day and we are losing many a youth, the numbers are putting so much pressure on the facility and resource,” she said.
Mr David Osarfo Adonteng, Acting Director General of the NRSA, said the motorcycle riders were major stakeholders in the road safety space and by the new mandate, it was necessary to engage them, as part of series of engagement with stakeholders to sensitise the general public and road users on the need to protect themselves and be alert on the roads.
He noted that the series of engagement, particularly with the riders had had a significant impact on road crash injuries and deaths in the past few months this year.
He said ” The motorcycle riders are a huge component of road users, motor cycle crashes used to lead the fatality stock but this year, with the operation PAARI activities initiated by the IGP, the riders now see themselves as recognised.
“They have confirmed that they didn’t know all these laws and regulations that governed their operations and we think that the engagement has been so fruitful,” he added.
He said the NRSA together with stakeholders would continue to bring them on board to appreciate their working space.
He was hopeful that they would be disciplined and become advocates among their colleagues, especially as the Christmas and new year approached.
GNA