IMPATIENCE, MAJOR CAUSE OF ROAD ACCIDENTS IN UE (Daily Graphic, Monday, November 24,2008. PAGE 40)

THE Upper East Regional Licensing Officer, Mr Jacob Abegyah, has identified impatience on the part of road users and the lack of knowledge of road signs as the major causes of road accidents in the region.
Speaking at an educational forum for drivers in Bolgatanga, Mr Abegyah bemoaned the spate of road accidents in the region.
He, therefore, appealed to motorists to pay attention to all educational programmes aimed at reducing road accidents.
The Regional Road Safety Committee organised the forum on the theme: "Ensuring a crash free Election 2008" as part of the road safety campaign week.
Available statistics indicate that from January to November 15, this year, the region recorded 62 accidents involving 81 vehicles.
As many as 27 people were reported dead in the accidents while 53 others sustained various degrees of injury.
Mr Abegyah urged the various transport unions to organise regular training courses on road signs and traffic regulations for their members to minimise the carnage on the roads.
The Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Mahama Hamidu, who is also the Chairman of the Regional Road Safety Committee, said about 80 per cent of accidents were caused by the human factor.
According to him, failure of drivers to heed warning signals and lack of maintenance of vehicles had led to loss of lives.
DCOP Hamidu advised drivers to avoid the drinking of alcoholic beverages and speeding in order to prevent accidents.
He also cautioned drivers to rest after
every four hours of driving to refreshen them up and put them in the right frame of mind to continue their journey.
"If you do not have sound mind and you sit behind the steering wheel, you are a danger to society," DCOP Hamidu said.
According to the Regional Police Commander, a single mistake by a doctor could lead to the death of one person, but a mistake on the part of a driver, could lead to the death of more than one person.
He stated that “it is insensible for the nation to lose its human resources trained at high cost through road accidents” and therefore, cautioned drivers to take their profession seriously to avoid deaths on the roads.
The Regional Road Safety Co-ordinator, Mr Alex Ayata, said so much resources were used by the state to treat accident victims so there was the need for drivers to acquaint themselves with the regulations concerning their profession to prevent road accidents.
The Deputy Commander of the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Seth Tay, noted that accidents brought economic hardships to the nation.
He stated that many accidents occurred during general election and Christmas periods due to indiscipline on the parts of drivers.
ASP Tay warned that the police were ready to deal with all cases involving violation of road traffic regulations to ensure incident-free polls and Christmas.

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