In an effort to enhance adherence to road safety regulations and reduce road accidents and associated fatalities, the Building and Road Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (BRRI-CSIR) has urged the Ghana Police Service to increase their visibility on the roads.
A study conducted by the John Hopkins International Injury Research Unit, with support from the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety, has attributed the rising number of road accident fatalities to low compliance with road safety rules and regulations, particularly among motorists in Kumasi.
The available statistics indicate that approximately 34% of road traffic fatalities involve occupants of cars, buses, and trucks, with one of the primary risk factors being the failure to use seatbelts.
The research discovered that only 15% of vehicle occupants in Kumasi wear seatbelts, while in the case of helmet usage among riders, only 44% use them correctly.
Proper helmet usage can result in a 42% reduction in the risk of fatal injuries and a 69% reduction in the risk of head injuries.
During a Bloomberg stakeholders Data Use Workshop in Kumasi, former engineer and researcher at BRRI-CSIR, Ing. Francis Afukaar expressed concern about the inadequate compliance with road safety regulations.
“Indeed, if you look at what is happening, the data is explicitly telling us that a number of things are not being done right. Poor use of helmets, seatbelts, and excessive speed is common. The National Safety Authority has been speaking on some of these things, and they also collaborate strongly with the police. But the police presence is not felt on all the roads. According to the study, motorists comply with the safety rules when they see the police. They move within their speed limit and put on the seatbelt/helmet. As for the human beings, if you don’t enforce a law, they’ll flout it”, Ing Afukaar observed.
This workshop represents a collaborative initiative involving Bloomberg Philanthropists, John Hopkins University, and BRRI-CSIR. Its purpose is to partner with relevant institutions and groups, providing them with knowledge and expertise to contribute to the reduction of road accidents and the associated fatalities and injuries.