The Standard is dismayed about the recent dreadful accident at Okyereko, near Winneba, which took about 40 lives, the worst in living memory.
We are convinced that if maximum care had been taken, our nation would not have been subjected to such senseless carnage.
We condole with the bereaved families of the accident and wish the victims at home or in hospital speedy recovery.
The Standard is disheartened that the Okyereko accident should happen at a time when there is a downward trend in accidents in the Ashanti Region in the first quarter of the year compared to the same period last year.
We had hoped that this downward trend would be the pattern throughout the country.
Reportedly, a total of 381 road accidents in the Ashanti Region were recorded in the first quarter of this year as against 522 in 2006.
The Ashanti Regional Co-ordinator of the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC), Mr. Kwaku Oware-Boateng, attributed the downward trend to a renewed consciousness on accidents and the subsequent improvement of safety measures by the public.
The region had been recording high accident figures in the country.
Out of the accidents recorded in the first quarter of 2007 in the Ashanti Region, a total of 50 people were killed as compared to 91 in 2006.
We recall several accidents in the country in which many lives were lost, including those of the 34 Choristers of the Abuakwa St. Peter’s Parish in Kumasi last year.
Most of the carnage on our roads are attributed to over-speeding, overtaking, drink-driving, over loading and non adherence to Road Traffic Regulations.
The reduction of road accidents in Ashanti Region, in our view, should be an example for other regions to reduce senseless road accidents in their areas.
The reduction of road accidents in the Region does not mean all is well. Drivers who operate there should be extra careful and observe Traffic Regulations, while road safety education should be intensified.
We urge drivers to be tolerant and patient any time they are behind the steering wheel. Passengers on board vehicles should continue to register their loudest protest against any act of indiscipline by drivers.
Broken down vehicles on the road side have also largely contributed to accidents and it is time the Motor Traffic Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service clamped down on such practices.
The Standard calls on road users to help minimise deaths on our roads since in many cases, bread-winners are decimated by road accidents in many families.
Commercial drivers should have adequate experience before they are issued with licenses while vehicle owners on their part, should endeavour to maintain their vehicles regularly.
We passionately call on the Ministry of Road and Transport, National Road Safety Commission and the Drivers and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to intensify their sensitization programmes on road safety.
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