The Bono Regional National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has sounded the alarm over a dramatic increase in motorcycle accidents within the first quarter of 2024.
According to the Regional Manager of the Authority, Abigail Atinpoka Adongo, there has been a staggering 130% rise in such incidents compared to the same period last year.
The data shows a troubling trend: while 48 motorcycle or tricycle accidents were recorded throughout 2023, with 10 occurring in the first quarter, the first quarter of 2024 alone has already seen 23 accidents.
More worryingly, 17 of these incidents involved victims who were not wearing helmets.
Adongo pointed out that this surge is primarily due to a lack of adherence to road traffic regulations and a failure to prioritize safety.
In response, the National Road Safety Authority has stepped up its public education campaigns, emphasizing the critical importance of wearing crash helmets.
Recognizing the additional risks posed by the election year, the Authority is committed to increasing its efforts to prevent further accidents and save lives.
To tackle this issue, the Authority is collaborating with the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to enforce helmet laws and promote a culture of safety in the region.
Motorcyclists and passengers are being urged to take personal responsibility for their safety by consistently wearing helmets.
“We are worried as an authority because over the years there has been an increase in the number of motorcyclists involved in accidents or crashes. Last year we recorded 48 that had to do with motorcycles or tricycles,” said Adongo.
She further highlighted the significant rise in accidents this year.
“If you take this year’s first quarter compared to last year’s first quarter, we realize that there has been an increase in the figures. So last year’s first quarter, we recorded 10 crashes involving motorcycles. But this year as we stand, in the first quarter we recorded 23 which means that there has been an increase and the increase is about 130 percent which is alarming.”
Emphasizing the critical role of helmet use, she added, “As I compared the 2023 first quarter and 2024 first quarter where there is an alarming increase in the first quarter of 2024, we realized that out of the 23 that had the accident, 17 of them were without helmets and six were with helmets. This year being an election year, it calls for more from the Authority.”
The National Road Safety Authority’s intensified efforts aim to reverse this worrying trend and ensure a safer environment for all road users in the Bono Region.