Richard Anning, a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has called for stronger and more practical measures to reduce road accidents and fatalities in Ghana.
Speaking on Plan B FM’s EBAANOSEN, hosted by Adomba De-Starboy, Mr Anning stressed the need for increased police visibility, effective speed monitoring, continuous road safety education and improved road infrastructure.
He said the presence of police officers at strategic locations could help deter motorists from speeding and engaging in other dangerous driving practices.
However, he acknowledged that it would not be practical for police officers to be stationed every few kilometres. He therefore urged authorities to complement police patrols with speed cameras and other technology capable of monitoring motorists and enforcing speed limits.
Mr Anning also called for intensified road safety education, particularly through television, radio and other media platforms. He argued that road safety education should go beyond occasional campaigns and become a continuous effort aimed at changing driver behaviour.
According to him, drivers must be regularly educated on road signs, responsible driving and the dangers of speeding, dangerous overtaking and distracted driving.
He further urged motorists to exercise caution when approaching accident scenes, warning that careless parking and drivers focusing on accidents rather than the road could result in secondary crashes.
Drawing on his experience working with road safety initiatives in the Eastern and Volta Regions, Mr Anning said human error remains one of the major causes of road accidents in Ghana.
He noted that his experience and observations from the insurance sector indicate that a significant number of crashes are linked to driver behaviour, including overconfidence, lack of concentration, speeding and failure to comply with road safety regulations.
Mr Anning also appealed to the Ministry of Roads and Highways and other relevant authorities to identify and address dangerous sections of roads, particularly sharp curves, narrow stretches and known accident-prone areas.
He stressed that although motorists have a major responsibility for road safety, poor road design and inadequate safety measures can also contribute to crashes.
He therefore called for a comprehensive approach involving enforcement, public education, technology and improved road infrastructure to help protect lives on Ghana’s roads.
By: Ernest Kumi
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