essay on causes of road accidents in ghana

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• v.54(3); 2020 Sep

Road traffic accidents in Ghana: contributing factors and economic consequences

The impact of road traffic injuries could be enormous, affecting societies and individuals in different facets. Despite the prominence of Covid-19 disease in the current public health space, road crashes remain an important contributor to mortality. It is estimated that some 1.4 million people die from road crashes globally, with most of these being the youth, and people from developing countries. 1 In Ghana, 72 persons out of every 100 000 population, suffered from grievous bodily injury, and close to 8 of the same population died from Road Traffic Accidents (RTAs) over the past decade. More than 60% of road traffic fatalities occured in children and young persons under 35 years of age. 2 Aside the mortality and morbidity associated with the road crashes, Ghanaian households spend an average of US$ 1687.65 in direct and indirect cost on severe injuries associated with road crashes, while many suffer considerable degrees of psychological distress. 3

The burden of road crashes in Ghana require a conscientious and multi-sectorial approach to reduce its occurrence and impact, while policies need strengthening and enforcing at all levels. The impact of RTAs may be mitigated by efficient emergency systems as well as policies which support care of victims. However, at the primary level, implementation of traffic rules and regulations is key, as discussions on road and vehicle safety are broadened. Road safety should be of concern to all stakeholders, as both motorists and pedestrians are at risk of the hazards of road crashes.

At the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, for instance, road traffic accidents accounted for 62% of deaths at the casualty unit of the emergency department. Interestingly, among the deaths caused by road crashes, 50% occurred in pedestrians, 31% in passengers and 18.7% occurred in motorists. It is worthy of note that among persons injured from road traffic crashes in this same study, 26% were related to motorbike accidents. 4 Road safety education is also a crucial element in the prevention strategies for road traffic accidents. At one local maxillofacial centre, majority of the injuries encountered (55%) were from road traffic accidents. 5 Management of these cases, often with limited resources, brings to the fore another dimension of concern for many healthcare professionals- the burden on the healthcare system and the families of the patients.

Despite the disease burden, there seem to be a relative dearth of research on road crashes in Ghana. In this issue of the Ghana Medical Journal, Poku et al report some instructive findings on factors associated with road crashes from drivers' perspective in the Kintampo North Municipality. Their findings indeed provide useful pointers to areas requiring some actions.

Providing evidence through research on the burden, regional distribution, health system factors, cost-effective interventions and policy effectiveness should stimulate various stakeholders to take up the challenge and help reduce this preventable and avoidable catastrophe.

Mathews Journal of Emergency Medicine

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• Emergency Medicine
• Previous Issues
• Volume 8, Issue 1 - 2023

Previous Issues Volume 8, Issue 1 - 2023

Contributing factors to road accidents in ghana.

Nathaniel Gyimah*

Department of Social Sciences, St. Joseph Senior High School, Sefwi Wiawso, Ghana

*Corresponding Author: Nathaniel Gyimah, Department of Social Sciences, St. Joseph Senior High School, Sefwi Wiawso, Ghana, Tel: +233249241021; Email: [email protected] .

Received Date: December 01, 2022

Published Date: Jaunary 06, 2023

Citation: Gyimah N. (2023). Contributing Factors to Road Accidents in Ghana. Mathews J Emergency Med. 8(1):48.

Copyrights: Gyimah N.©(2023).

Road accidents in Ghana are taking out the lives of innocent Ghanaians. The causes of this calamity are always different from one point of view to another. This research has been executed to provide expedient information on contributing factors to road accidents in Ghana. The research has made use of predecessors’ works on the causes of road accidents and their effects. Moreover, the study utilised a mixed/integrated approach to research mainly to produce unbiased information. A good collection of data was done through in-depth interviews and questionnaires. Furthermore, convenience and simple random sampling techniques were used. Genuinely, both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to analyse the gathered information. The study engaged two hundred (200) respondents as a sample size that is 100 road safety stakeholders and 100 road users. Moreover, the major contributing factors to road accidents were identified as follows; poor nature of roads, carelessness of road users, faulty vehicles, stress, unskilled drivers, inadequate road signs, inefficient MTTU personnel, speeding, lack of education, drunkenness, and gross indiscipline. Other findings were; Drivers: rash driving, violation of rules, failure to understand signs, fatigue. Pedestrian: carelessness, illiteracy, crossing at wrong places moving on the carriageway, Jaywalkers. Passengers: Projecting their body outside the vehicle, by talking to drivers. Vehicles: failure of brakes or steering, tyre burst, insufficient headlights, overloading, projecting loads. Road conditions: potholes, damaged road, eroded road merging of rural roads with highways. Weather conditions: Fog, snow, heavy rainfall, wind storms, hail storms. Based on the findings, recommendations were stipulated under the following headings; Education, Provision of road signs, Enforcement of traffic and road safety regulations, Avoidance of attitudes/distractions leading to road accidents, Availability of logistics, Construction of good roads, Maintenance of roads and vehicles and Positive development.

Keywords: Contributing Factors, Road Accidents, Speeding, Drunk Driving, Distractions to Driver, Red Light Jumping, Safety Gears, Seat Belts.

ABBREVIATIONS

WHO: World Health Organisation; TSR: Traffic System Risk; RIC: Road Infrastructure Card; NRSC: National Road Safety Commission; GhIE: Ghana Institution of Engineers.

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

There have been significant improvements in all sectors of the country’s infrastructure, particularly in areas relating to roads and highways. Major road works could be seen all over the country and the rate of development has been sustained over a longer duration and supported with regular maintenance, reconstruction, and management, there is no doubt that the gains would be translated into long-term benefits [1].

In periods of high growth, it is very easy for engineers, designers, and planners of infrastructure to concentrate on meeting impending targets rather than taking a holistic approach to deliver what is appropriate, efficient and safe for long-term social and economic demands. The importance of road infrastructure for communities to function and generate effective economic growth cannot be overemphasised. Roads must, however, be designed and constructed to certain mandatory safety and functional standards for realistic life-cycle benefits to be accrued. Highway designers, therefore, have a professional and moral obligation to the safety of the different categories of road users: drivers, passengers, pedestrians, the disabled and include cart pullers and roadside hawkers, however, safety cannot be compromised for any reasons [1].

Incidentally, accident statistics of Ghana’s roads (number of casualties per ten thousand people) are not desirably ranked among the worst in the world. Although many factors contribute to road traffic accidents, there is little doubt that engineering and planning improvements can affect road-user behaviour in such a way that accidents are less likely to occur. In other words, safer roads and well-planned roadside environments (or implementation of road safety standards) reduce the likelihood and severity of accidents [1].

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) newsletter on road safety published in November 2003, road traffic injuries are a deadly scourge, taking the lives of 1.2 million men, women and children around the world each year. Hundreds of thousands more are injured on roads, some of whom become permanently disabled. Road traffic injuries involve issues of equity. They disproportionately affect the poor in developing countries, where the majority of road crash victims are vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists, children, and passengers). Whilst road traffic accident rates are generally improving in high-income economies, many developing countries in Africa and Asia face a worsening situation (DETR, 1999). Injuries and disability resulting from road traffic crash put a significant strain on economies, typically consuming between 1 and 3 percent of a country’s gross national product per annum (UN, 2003).

Traveling on Ghana’s roads has become a nightmare as the country records more deaths from fatal road accidents. So far, over 230 people have died in Ghana in road accidents between January and February 2018 and 2,671 have experienced serious injuries, according to figures from the Road Safety Commission. As passengers blame drivers for speeding leading to fatal accidents, drivers are blaming the government for poor road construction, potholes, and other problems. The Accra-Kumasi highway, Accra–Aflao-Togo border, Accra-Cape Coast through to Takoradi and Kumasi–Techiman-Kintampo through to Tamale highways are noted as hotspots for road crashes in Ghana. In the Greater Accra region, the George Bush motorway alone has experienced 300 deaths as a result of road accidents since its construction in 2011, while the Tema motorway records over 200 deaths every year [2].

Road accidents occur for a variety of reasons. Often, drivers are distracted while behind the wheel, taking their focus away from the road. In other cases, drivers can become tired after spending multiple hours at the wheel, resulting in preventable errors. Sometimes, accidents occur for a combination of reasons, from bad visibility to unsafe road design, or other drivers lack caution. While the causes of accidents can vary, the consequences are often the same, resulting in everything from vehicular and property damage to serious injuries [3].

Furthermore, road accident is the most unwanted thing to happen to a road user, though they happen quite often. The most unfortunate thing is that people do not learn from mistakes on the road. Most of the road users are quite well aware of the general rules and safety measures while using roads but it is only the laxity on part of road users, which causes accidents and crashes. The main cause of accidents and crashes are due to human errors [4].

Statistically, the crash statistics in 2016 represent an increase of 15.6% and 6.77% in fatalities and serious injuries respectively but a reduction of 11.7% in crashes over the 2015 figures. For the third time running, the Traffic System Risk (TSR) index has hit the single-digit mark (9.24 fatalities/10,000 vehicles). There was an increase in fatal crashes by 7.6% in 2016, but at the regional level, the Greater Accra region recorded the highest percentage decrease of -22.1% in fatal crashes followed by the Upper West Region (-2.5%). All the remaining regions recorded increases in fatal crashes; Northern (34.9%), Volta (34.5%), Eastern (30.4%), Brong Ahafo (26.1%), Upper East (20.5%), Central (18.8%), Ashanti (11.3%) and Western (2.2%) [5].

Figure 1. Road traffic crash and casualty situation in 2016.

Road traffic crash and casualty situation in 2016.

Source: National Road Safety Commission, Statistics, 2018 [5].

Figure 2. Road traffic and casualty situation in 2015.

Road Traffic Crash and Casualty Situation.

In addition to the above, in 2016, the Ashanti Region recorded the highest number of fatalities, totalling 403 deaths which represented 19.3% of all fatalities in Ghana. This was followed by Greater Accra Region (367 deaths; 17.6%), Brong Ahafo (299 deaths; 14.3%), Eastern (293 deaths; 14.1%), and Central (213 deaths; 10.2%). These five regions together contributed over three-quarters (75.5%) of all the road traffic fatalities in Ghana. It is worthy to note that, for the first time in three years, the Ashanti Region has recorded the highest number of fatalities as it used to be Greater Accra which was the leading crash-prone region based on the number of persons killed in road crashes. The worsening traffic safety situation in the Ashanti Region may, in part be attributed to the relaxation of traffic enforcement, in recent times, on the main Accra-Kumasi highway [5].

The road user class with the highest share of fatalities continued to be pedestrians (824; 39.5%) followed by motorcycle users (437; 21%) and then bus occupants (364; 17.5%). The crash statistics show that the pedestrian fatality share once again fell below the 40% mark resulting in an annual reduction of -0.84% in pedestrian fatalities over the 2015 figure. This is in sharp contrast with the annual increase of 59.0% for bus occupants, 35.3% for motorcycle and 17.5% for car occupant fatalities. Safety measures for pedestrians should be sustained whiles those for bus occupants should be refocused and stepped up to stem the situation [5].

Moreover, motorcycle users also stood the greatest risk of death in traffic, registering the second-highest road traffic fatalities (21.0%) after pedestrians, thus overtaking fatalities among bus occupants (17.5%) and car occupants (10.7%). Though there was a drop of -9.3% in motorcycle fatalities in 2015, it increased by 35.3% in 2016. This calls for pragmatic measures to curb the rising rate of increase in motorcycle fatalities. Similar to 2015, approximately 60% of road traffic fatalities continued to occur on the non-urban sections of the road networks in 2016 while the remaining 40% were on the urban road networks. Compared to 2015, there was an increase in fatalities in both urban and non-urban road environments by 12.4% and 17.9% respectively. The impact of speed humps on fatality reductions on the highways needs further investigations. Until 2016, there has been a consistent decrease in road traffic fatalities on the non-urban sections of the road networks since the year 2012 [5].

Furthermore, the month of December recorded the highest monthly fatalities, for the third year running. Compared to the national population pattern, males (78.5%) are over-represented in road traffic fatalities, accounting for about 3.7 times those of females and that the 26-35 years age-group continued to be the modal age group in the fatality statistics [5].

Figure 3. Percentage change of 2015/2016 crash and casualty situation

Figure 4. Distribution of fatalities by road user class

Figure 5. Comparison of 2015/2016 crash and casualty situation.

Problem statement

Ghana’s highway network shows encouraging signs of improvement but some reconstruction is required to avert long periods of neglect. There is a huge potential to reduce the likelihood and severity of accidents through better design standards and maintenance. In Ghana, like many developing countries, the social and economic cost of road traffic accidents can be reduced by moderate investment in road safety audits and assessment. There have been efforts to introduce cutting-edge technology to facilitate pedestrian flow, especially within urban areas. However, the designs are disproportionately unfavourable to people with natural infirmities, including the elderly, kaya-kaya, cart pullers and roadside hawkers [1].

However, highways in Ghana are inadequately signposted, and road markings are sometimes non-existent over long stretches of highway. Where departures from acceptable standards have been adopted, provision of well-designed road signs and markings can significantly contribute to the safe and efficient operation of road networks. Inadequate road markings increase the chaos and accident potential on roads, particularly in areas where complex and conflicting maneuvers are permissible. Placement of advertising billboards appears unconstrained and consequently clutters the highway corridor and impacts on visibility to the detriment of road users. Many of the safety implications on Ghana’s roads are obvious, can be highlighted by independent safety auditing and assessment, and eliminated through the application of low-cost corrective measures. Given the substantial maintenance backlog of existing roads, it not considered acceptable to simply build new networks without rectifying deteriorated sections of existing roads and introducing countermeasures to get rid of safety hazards [1].

Factually, Ghana Institution of Engineers (GhIE) has expressed worry about the state of the road infrastructure in the country, especially their lifespan. Results from the Road Infrastructure Card (RIC), a process that assesses the quality and state of roads, indicates that roads in the country have been poorly built and deteriorate at a fast pace. The RIC, among other benchmarks, also monitors and tests if the appropriate materials were used to build the roads, the level of supervision, specifications, and design. Climate change is likely to damage transportation infrastructure through higher temperatures, severe storms and flooding, and higher storm surges. There is, therefore, the urgent need for the assessment of new viable road construction materials to improve road quality and utilise cost-effective maintenance techniques in the preservation of the road assets. Road accidents have become one of the leading causes of deaths in Ghana; Efforts by government to reduce road accidents have been coupled with road safety awareness and education, although it has helped in a way but has not helped totally to curb the menace because of the increasing occurrences the primary cause of these accidents is hidden. The National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) announced that there were 19 fatalities per 10,000 vehicles in 2010. In 2011, 2,330 road accidents were bringing it to an average of 7 accidents per day across the country. In 2012, by November ending, 13,535 crashes have been recorded resulting in over 2,069 deaths in Ghana. In December 2012 alone, 246 people died and 1,260 were injured in car accidents. A car is first and foremost a mechanical vessel that operates in line with scientific principles. In a world of advanced technology and therefore causes of accidents can best be induced by engineering analysis. It is an undisputed fact that the vast majority of cars imported into this country are second hand with most of them being faulty due to the high-cost maintenance and repairs overseas. Interestingly enough, when they reach the shores of Ghana, they are handed over to mechanics known in the local parlance as “fitters” to undertake their repairs. These mechanics to the best of their knowledge and by improvising, try to fix these faults without the necessary precautions [6].

It is therefore important to bring to light the contributing factors to road accidents in Ghana and also consider useful recommendations to reduce the rate of accidents in Ghana.

Objectives of the study

The main objective of the study was to find out contributing factors to road accidents in Ghana. Specifically, the study would emphasise on;

• Causes of road accidents in Ghana.
• Effects of road accidents in Ghana.
• Recommendations to curb road accidents in Ghana.

Research questions

The study has the following research questions:

• What are the causes of road accidents in Ghana?
• What are the effects of road accidents in Ghana?
• What are the recommendations to curb road accidents in Ghana?

Significance of the study

The study has uncountable monumental which are not limited to the following;

• Point of reference to expedient researchers who have the desire to research road safety.
• Capture the attention of government on the rate road accidents are taking away the lives of innocent citizens who are also breadwinners of their families.
• Prompt the ministry of roads and highways as a matter of urgency to bring sincere solutions to road accidents.
• Educate road users about the causes, effects, and recommendations to curb road accidents.
• Alert road stakeholders about the need to invent scientific-technological tools to foretell road users about impending and avoidable accidents.

Justification of the study

Indeed, road accidents have come to stay with humans whose causes are ramified and have kept on recurring anywhere, everywhere and anytime without replacement of the lives of lost souls. This calamity has to be viewed twice to get amicable solutions. Factually, people who are not qualified to get driving licenses manoeuvre in one way or the other to get them and in return cause road accidents. Drivers drive under the influence of alcohol which predominantly cause road accidents. The aforementioned contemplation boosted the researcher to venture into road accidents solely to find out the contributing factors, effects, and recommendations to curb the situation. This study stands to be exceptional because the researcher has attached fresh to it that is advising readers to collaborate with the recommendations to fight against road accidents in Ghana.

Road m arkings

Road markings consist of a series of coloured lines, arrows, patterns, and symbols, simple words (such as STOP, SLOW, TURN LEFT,) and other devices that are applied to, set into, or attached to a carriageway of a sealed road. Their main functions are to guide vehicles into definite positions on the carriageway, supplement the regulations and warnings of traffic signs and signals and indicate permissible turning manoeuvres. Road markings (edge lines, lane delineators and centre lines) encourage order on roads and separate opposing traffic thereby eliminating conflict. On multi-lane carriageways, lane discipline allows traffic to flow smoothly, minimise chaos and maximise the capacity of the road. Without the edge of road markings, wheel loads outside edge lines will accelerate carriageway deterioration. In many parts of the world including Britain, various road markings have a particular statutory meaning which road user is obliged to know. Road markings are also used to indicate a variety of parking, waiting and loading restrictions. In Britain for example, continuous longitudinal lines on the carriageway are used to discourage crossing and transverse lines are used to indicate stop lines. The resources required to install road markings are infinitesimal compared to the capital cost of road construction. Road markings are cheap ways of imparting information to drivers and other road users, yet long stretches of some sealed primary roads in Ghana have no road markings, the easiest, quickest and final activity in the road construction process [1].

Traffic c alming

This is a term used for the application of engineering and physical measures designed to control traffic speeds and encourage driver’s behaviour appropriate to the environment. Traffic calming uses specific measures to reduce and control vehicle speeds to a level commensurate with the activities taking place along a road. It can also encourage drivers to adopt a uniform speed without excessive acceleration or deceleration. Besides, traffic calming can be used to influence a driver’s behaviour towards non-motorised road users. The overall aim is to tame the motor vehicle so that its usage at particular locales is compatible with other forms of road users. A variety of measures can be used to influence the driver’s behaviour and perception. The essence of traffic calming, however, lies not in the use of specific measures but in the overall objective to create safer roads and better environmental conditions. In Ghana, the commonest form is the road hump sometimes called the sleeping policeman. Narrow road humps installed across roads in pairs of twos, threes or more such as those found in some areas in Ghana may be referred to as rumble strips. In developed countries, traffic calming is seldom used on roads with speed limits greater than 50 km/hour. Its use in Ghana on primary roads where speeds are relatively higher due to lack of resources and mechanisms to enforce speed regulations, especially on approaches to towns and villages, pedestrian crossings, schools are considered appropriate provided the strategic objectives of improving driver’s behaviour, concentration, awareness and reducing speeds are achieved. The sudden encounter of road humps is dangerous. It is not good for installing road humps without the necessary advanced warning as seen in some areas in Ghana. It has been found, for example, that the most effective traffic calming measures are generally those that are very conspicuous [1].

Pedestrian f acilities

Walking is the most frequently used mode of transport because it is involved in all modes of travel. Pedestrians encompass people of both sexes and all ages and socio-economic groupings. They include people of various degrees of physical fitness, including the elderly, the disabled or the mobility impaired. In Ghana, it is considered reasonable to define pedestrians to include cart pullers and the kaya-kaya man or woman (street porters). It is worth remembering that the majority of serious injury and fatal road accidents occur to pedestrians for obvious reasons. Pedestrian facilities in Ghana include footways, footbridges and pedestrian crossings. The commonest at-grade pedestrian crossings in Ghana are the zebra crossings where the pedestrian has legal priority over the motor vehicle. A motor vehicle must, therefore, give way to a pedestrian who steps onto a zebra crossing and this precedence continues while the pedestrian is on the carriageway. In Britain, zigzag, double yellow or double red lines substitute for edge and lane markings either side of pedestrian crossings. The relevant design standards encourage designers to incorporate high-friction surfacing approximately fifty metres in advance of pedestrian crossings to assist and minimise the risk of skidding during breaking, thus offering additional protection to users [1].

Traffic Signs

Road signs offer a medium for communicating with drivers to assist them in the driving task. Three principal types of signs can be identified according to their functions:

• Regulatory signs; carry mandatory instructions which must by law be obeyed or prohibit certain manoeuvres respectively;
• Warning signs; are usually advanced instructions which alert motorist to danger ahead;
• Information signs; are intended to assist drivers in getting to their destination.

By convention, road signs need to be comprehensible to all including non-local or foreign drivers. Emphasis is therefore placed on the use of signs which communicate their messages by ideographic representations rather than by inscriptions. Road signing is an area in highways, traffic, and transportation engineering that is benefiting from advances in modern technology. New road signs being promoted in developed countries include variable message signs, in-vehicle information, and navigation systems, highway telematics, and many others and are based on satellite communication, video surveillance and global positioning systems. These are geared towards achieving a comprehensive intelligent transport system [1]. Road signing in Ghana is generally very basic and a complete overhaul of the system is essential as some of the discussions above already show. The only signs identifiable in Ghana within the highway corridor are probably the private advertising billboards, which may be illegal. Numbers of signs per stretch of road, typeface, size, colour, mounting height and design have not been regulated. These signs undermine the serenity of road space, are stressful in particular to the non-local drivers, and impact on the environment in the form of visual intrusion and obstruction [1].

The majority of highway culverts in Ghana have been built in concrete, with headwalls at both the upstream and downstream ends. These headwalls have structural concrete upstand abutting the running edge of the carriageway with workmanship generally beyond reproach. The structural headwalls stand in isolation, range in height from 450mm to 1000mm, and above the finished road level. Most highway design standards would recommend some protection for concrete obstructions close to the running edge, usually in the form of safety fencing to contain errant vehicles and avoid impact. These concrete structures are particularly dangerous on unlit urban and rural roads. The effect increases on bends, peaks, and troughs, and on unsealed roads where vehicles utilise wider road space to avoid deteriorated sections. In the absence of safety fencing, the most cost-effective way to downgrade the risk of impact is to coat the structures with high visibility reflective paint in vertical or horizontal stripes of contrasting colours (usually red, yellow or black stripes in white background). Concrete or stone-lined ditches either side of settlements along high-speed rural and urban roads have similar safety implications. This group of ditches could be lined with inexpensive marker posts or bollards with reflective bands to make them more conspicuous [1].

CAUSES OF ROAD ACCIDENTS

According to the Transport Department in Jharkhand, the following are causes of road accidents.

Most of the fatal accidents occur due to speeding. It is a natural psyche of humans to excel. If given a chance man is sure to achieve infinity in speed. Driving above the speed limit is a common practice for many motorists. It is also illegal behaviour that vastly increases the risk of losing control of a vehicle and causing an accident. The faster a vehicle travels, the longer it takes to slow down in the event of an obstacle. Even a small increase in speed can result in a much higher risk of being involved in a collision or other type of accident. As such, motorists need to be aware of the speed at which they are traveling and stay within the legal limits. An increase in speed multiplies the risk of accident and severity of the injury. Faster vehicles are more prone to accidents than slower ones. The higher the speed, the greater the risk. At high speed, the vehicle needs a greater distance to stop (braking distance). A slower vehicle comes to halt immediately while faster one takes a long way to stop and also skids a long distance due to the law of motion. A vehicle moving on high speed will have a greater impact during the crash and hence will cause more injuries. The ability to judge the forthcoming events also gets reduced while driving at a faster speed which causes error in judgment and finally a crash.

Drunk driving

Consumption of alcohol to celebrate any occasion is common. But when mixed with driving it turns celebration into a misfortune. Alcohol reduces concentration. It decreases the reaction time of a human body. Limbs take more to react to the instructions of the brain. It hampers vision due to dizziness. Alcohol dampens fear and incites humans to take risks. All these factors while driving cause accidents and many times it proves fatal. For every increase of 0.05 blood alcohol concentration, the risk of accident doubles. Apart from alcohol many drugs, medicines also affect the skills and concentration necessary for driving.

Distractions to d river

Though distraction while driving could be minor but it can cause major accidents. Distractions could be outside or inside the vehicle. The major distraction nowadays is talking on a mobile phone while driving. The act of talking on the phone occupies a major portion of the brain and the smaller part handles the driving skills. Drivers can become distracted behind the wheel for a variety of reasons. Some of the leading causes of distracted driving accidents include using a cell phone while driving, as well as eating food or drinking from a mug or bottle while behind the wheel. This division of brain hampers reaction time and ability of judgment. This becomes one of the reasons for crashes. Some of the distractions on the road are;

• Adjusting mirrors while driving
• Stereo/Radio in vehicle
• Animals on the road

Red l ight j umping

It is a common sight at road intersections that vehicles cross without caring for the light. The main motive behind Red light jumping is saving time. The common conception is that stopping at the red signal is a wastage of time and fuel. Studies have shown that traffic signals followed properly by all drivers save time and commuters reach the destination safely and timely. A red-light jumper not only jeopardizes his life but also the safety of other road users. This act by one driver incites another driver to attempt it and finally causes chaos at the crossing. This chaos at the intersection is the main cause of traffic jams. Eventually, everybody gets late to their destinations. It has also been seen that the red-light jumper crosses the intersection with greater speed to avoid the crash but it hampers his ability to judge the ongoing traffic and quite often crashes.

Avoiding s afety g ears like s eat belts and h elmets

The use of a seat belt in four-wheeler is now mandatory and not wearing seat belt invites penalty, same in the case of helmets for two-wheeler drivers. Wearing seat belts and the helmet has been brought under law after proven studies that these two things reduce the severity of injury during accidents. Wearing seat belts and helmets doubles the chances of survival in a serious accident. Safety gears keep people intact and safe in case of accidents. Two-wheeler deaths have been drastically reduced after the use of helmet has been made mandatory.

Other causes of a ccidents r oads in Ghana

Drivers : Rash driving, violation of rules, failure to understand signs, fatigue, alcohol.

Pedestrian : Carelessness, illiteracy, crossing at wrong places moving on the carriageway, Jaywalkers.

Passengers : Projecting their body outside the vehicle, by talking to drivers, alighting and boarding vehicle from the wrong side traveling on footboards, catching a running bus, etc.

Vehicles : Failure of brakes or steering, tyre burst, insufficient headlights, overloading, projecting loads.

Road conditions : Potholes, damaged road, eroded road merging of rural roads with highways.

Weather conditions : Fog, snow, heavy rainfall, wind storms, hail storms.Poor roads prone to accidents in Ghana

Responsibly, two poor roads that are prone to accidents were selected from the previous ten (10) regions which are as follows;

• A road that links Asankrangwa and Affiena: This road had been badly deteriorated and untarred from time immemorial. It is a very busy road that takes people in and out of Asankrangwa in the Wassa Amenfi West Municipal of Western Region. It is one of the roads in Wassa Amenfi West Municipal that transport foodstuffs to its environment. This road usually becomes flooded during the rainy season where road users at this time carry all heavy loads on their heads and sometimes people get dead due to the flooding. The road is one of the cocoa roads in Wassa Amenfi West Municipal but has become a death trap for road users. It is a road that can take off uncountable innocent road users' lives. Importantly, this road demands the attention of the government be reconstructed and provide bridges where necessary mainly to avoid future road accidents since such road is prone to accidents. Even though there is a contractor on the road but it has been proven futile.

Figure 6. Poor nature of road that links Asankrangwa and Affiena.

  Source: Ayerakwa (2017) [7].

• Asankrangwa–Sefwi Bekwai road: This is a road that links Wassa Amenfi West Municipal and Western North Region. It is also one of the roads used by many road users who transact in terms of business in Kumasi that is, it also links Wassa Amenfi West Municipal and Kumasi in the Ashanti Region. The road is in its delipidated state which needs the attention of the government to renovate it purposely to prevent future road accidents.
• Abuakwa–Bibiani road (Ashanti Region)
• Adenta–Aburi road (Greater Accra Region)
• Ajumako - Breman Asikuma road (Central Region)
• Amasaman town road (Greater Accra Region)
• Atronie - Akyerensua road (Bono Ahafo Region)
• Dode Pepeso–Nkwanta road (Volta Region)
• Dunkwa–Denkyire Asikuma road (Central Region)
• Jasikan–Kadjebi road (Volta Region)
• Kandiga–Sirigu road (Upper East Region)
• Koforidua–Mamfe road (Eastern Region)
• Konongo–Agogo road (Ashanti Region)
• Navarongo–Pungu (Upper East Region)
• Subi Junction–New Abirem road (Eastern Region)
• Tamale–Salaga road (Northern Region)
• Tepa Junction–Goaso road (Bono Ahafo Region)
• Wa–Bulenga road (Upper West Region)
• Wa–Nyoli–Sawla road (Upper West Region)
• Yendi–Saboba road (Northern Region)

Roads spotted for accidents in Ghana

Some seven roads in Ghana have been marked as the most dangerous highways in the country due to the number of recorded road accidents on these roads. In 2018 alone, there were over 13,000 reported cases of road accidents across the country, with about 15,000 casualties including recorded death cases. According to the National Roads and Safety Commission report (2004-2011), 13 major highways in the country were assessed for road crashes within the 8 years. The seven (7) roads below were spotted for accidents based on statistics as published by GhanaWeb on Tuesday, 26 th March 2019 captioned as ‘’Seven most dangerous highways in Ghana’’;

• Accra–Cape Coast : This road is 145 kilometres’ long via the N1 Highway. Within the 8 years, there were 6,104 road crashes on that stretch with 7,465 casualties. This means that consistently for eight years, 2 people died or got injured in road crashes on that stretch every single day.
• Aflao–Accra : This road is 187 kilometre’s off the N1 highway and has recorded 3,919 road accidents in the year under review. 6,826 persons got injured or died from the incidents.
• Tema–Hohoe : This is 191 kilometres’ long. This stretch recorded 1,965 road crashes with 4,393 people being casualties. This makes it an average of 2 persons getting injured or dying from each reported accident on the stretch via the N2 highway.
• Kumasi–Techiman : This is a 126-kilometre stretch using the N10 highway. In 8 years, 1,702 road crashes were officially recorded on this stretch. This resulted in 3,481 casualties, indicating that each accident left about 2 people dead or injured.
• Kintampo–Tamale : 939 road crashes occurred on this stretch within the years under review via the N10 highway with 2,523 casualties. The stretch is 196 kilometres.
• Takorad i –Elubo : The 130-kilometre road via the N1 highway has seen 839 road crashes within 8 years and 1,425 casualties as a result.
• Tamale–Bolga : On this stretch, 780 motor accidents were recorded with 1,696 casualties. The stretch is located on the N 10 highway and is approximately 160 kilometres long.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

The study focused on Ghana particularly road accidents by way of ascertaining the major contributing factors and their remedies. This research concentrated on both primary and secondary sources of data. Moreover, the study utilised a mixed/integrated approach to research mainly to produce unbiased information. A good collection of data was done through in-depth interviews and questionnaires. Furthermore, convenience and simple random sampling techniques were used. Genuinely, both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to analyse the gathered information. The study involved one hundred (100) road safety stakeholders: ten (10) road safety stakeholders were engaged from each of the previous ten (10) regions. Likewise, ten (10) road users from each of the previous ten (10) regions added up to get one hundred (100) road users. In total, the study engaged two hundred (200) respondents as a sample size that is 100 road safety stakeholders and 100 road users. Factually, road safety stakeholders engaged in the study were; DVLA, Ghana Highways Authority, Ghana Police Service, National Ambulance Service, Ghana Red Cross Society, NADMO, Ghana Health Service, Local Government Service, GPRTU, Ghana National Fire Service, and Ghana Education Service. However, road users involved in the study were; drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, and passengers.

Analysis and findings

Table 1. Sex of respondents.

Source: Field data (2020) [8].

Many males participated in the study which comes with 82.5% of the total number of participants involved in the study and the remaining 17.5% represented females. This shows that females are needed most in any phenomenon, this low participation on the part of females are everywhere in the world where females do not avail themselves to social activities such as meetings, and conferences. This calls for the massive participation of females in any activities since decision making is made and observed collectively.

Table 2. Breakdown of respondents according to ten (10) region.

The in-depth interviews and questionnaires were administered on a regional basis where twenty (20) respondents (10%) were sorted from each of the previous ten (10) regions.

Table 3. Causes of road accidents.

Road accidents are predominantly caused by poor nature of roads as 31 participants stressed that representing 15.5% of the total participants. 16 respondents which represented 8% emphasised that road accidents are caused by the carelessness of road users. 12 respondents denoting 6% disclosed that road accidents are caused by faulty vehicles. 18 participants representing 9% made it known that stress sometimes causes accidents. 29 participants (14.5%) agitated that accidents are mostly happened by unskilled drivers who manage badly to get driving licenses. 10 respondents (5%) cleared the air that road accidents are caused by inadequate road signs which means some roads in Ghana do not have road signs, for example, a road that links Asankrangwa and Affiena (Wassa Amenfi West Municipal, Western Region). 11 participants (5.5%) aired that inefficient MTTU personnel has resulted in many road accidents. 28 (14%) respondents disclosed that speeding has brought road accidents to its peak. 15 participants (7.5%) alarmed that lack of education has also become a key contributor to road accidents. 20 respondents (10%) said that drunkenness has great involvement in road accidents as a lot of drivers drive under the influence of alcohol. 10 participants (5%) lamented that gross indiscipline has hidden say to road accidents. Inferentially, the causes of road accidents are dependent on the lamented causes reported by the respondents.

Table 4. Effects of road accidents.

87 respondents (43.5%) alarmed that the major effect of road accidents is death which is inevitable but sometimes avoidable: They also lamented that their numerous family members were dead because of road accidents. 19 participants (9.5%) cleared the air that road accidents have resulted in many uncountable damages of property. 61 respondents (30.5%) said that injury has become another option apart from death: Many people have become disable due to road accidents. 11 participants 5.5%) aired that unnecessary expenses are also part of the effects of road accidents since expenses which are not budgeted become budgeted in the event of road accidents. 10 respondents (5%) disclosed that road accidents bring negative economic impact on the economy because economic gurus sometimes lose their lives in the course of road accidents. 7 participants (3.5%) said that road accident brings a reduction in the population since road accidents take off the lives of people daily, monthly and yearly. 5 respondents (2.5%) lamented that road accidents sometimes bring business failure in the sense that many people travel to a place for businesses so accidents which are occurred in this enclave result in business failure and sometimes, businessmen and women die out of road accidents. Implicational, all effects of road accidents are negative and uncountable people lose their lives, properties are damaged, people become disable, unnecessary expenses are made, business persons are also lost, towns become depopulated, and economic gurus are also dead or injured all because of road accidents [9,10].

• It was known that the contributing factors to road accidents do not rest on a single entity but different factors come together to cause road accidents which are not limited to the following; poor nature of roads, carelessness of road users, faulty vehicles, stress, unskilled drivers, inadequate road signs, inefficient MTTU personnel, speeding, lack of education, drunkenness, and gross indiscipline.
• Other contributing factors to road accidents were highlighted from the perspective of drivers, pedestrians, passengers, vehicles, road conditions, and weather conditions.
• Another contributing factor was deficiency associated with road infrastructure.
• It was realistically found that the direct effects of road accidents are; death, injury, damage of property, unnecessary expenses, business failure, negative economic impact, and depopulation.
• It was also highlighted that there are myriad causes of road accidents but their effects are unwelcoming.
• It was ascertained again that the main causes of road accidents are human errors.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Recommendations are presented under the following headings based on the findings gathered; Education, Provision of road signs, Enforcement of traffic and road safety regulations, Avoidance of attitudes/distractions leading to road accidents, Availability of logistics, Construction of good roads, Maintenance of roads and vehicles and Positive development.

• Intensive education for road users. Not only on road signs but other precautionary measures.
• Agency for road safety management should carry out education and sensitisation programmes across the country and constantly engaging stakeholders at all levels to take the necessary steps in their various endeavours to prevent human deaths and injuries on roads.
• NGOs, religious bodies, traditional councils/leaders, professional bodies, musicians, captains of industry and the Media should discuss road safety at their various platforms since the fight against road accidents can only be fought and won collectively.
• Proper road safety programmes are encouraged.
• Carefulness on the part of the drivers is urged.
• Resting periods are needed for drivers on a long journey.
• One should use safety belts and gears of prescribed standards and tie them properly for optimum safety.

Provision of road signs

• To ensure the safety of pedestrians, drivers need to be warned on approach to zebra crossings. Solid and conspicuous road markings are required on the carriageway approximately twenty metres either side of the crossing strip.
• For traffic calming to be effective on high-speed roads, it must always be preceded by a speed reduction measure which may be in the form of warning signs indicating the road feature ahead.
• As a matter of urgency, policy and decision-makers have to consider mounting well-designed directional signs to major landmarks such as universities, schools, and colleges, cultural centres, hospitals, hotels, cities, and towns.

Enforcement of traffic and road safety regulations

• Strict compliance with existing road safety procedures, standards, and regulations are encouraged.
• MTTU personnel should be effective and efficient.
• Corporal punishment for speeding drivers is greatly needed.
• Driving licenses should be given to competent drivers only.

Avoidance of attitudes/distractions leading to road accidents

• Avoidance of speeding
• Do not use your cell phone while driving
• Concentrate, keep your eyes on the road while driving.
• Never drink and drive.

Availability of logistics

• There should be adequate devices to check speed.
• There should be vehicles to transport MTTU personnel to checkpoints before, during and after road accidents.

Construction of good roads

• Construction of good roads is encouraged to avoid future accidents especially a road that links Asankrangwa and Affiena in the Wassa Amenfi West Municipal of Western Region.
• Engineers must take into consideration the avoidance of road accidents when designing roads.
• Major roads must be dual carriage
• Minor ones must be tarred
• Building good roads with good demarcations

Maintenance of roads and vehicles

• The government should renovate all damaged roads.
• Repair of cars are encouraged to make them road wealthy

Positive development

• Improvement of road safety laws is encouraged effectively.
• The government should empower all road safety stakeholders (NRSC, DVLA) to invent scientific technologies on the roads mainly to alarm/foretell drivers, passengers, and pedestrians about avoidable accidents.
• Kontoh A. (2004). Ghana’s Roads? Which Way? Retrieved on 28 th March 2020 from: https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/features/Ghana-s-Roads-Which-Way-54862 .
• Koranteng KA. (2018). Ghana’s Deadly Roads. FairPlanet. Retrieved on 28 th March 2020 from: https://www.fairplanet.org/story/ghanas-deadly-roads/ .
• Accidents: Seven most dangerous Highways in Ghana. (2019). Retrieved on 28 th March 2020 from: https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Accidents-Seven-most-dangerous-Highways-in-Ghana-733281 .
• Causes of Road Accidents. Transport Department, Government of Jharkhand. (2020). Retrieved on 28 th March 2020 from: http://jhtransport.gov.in/causes-of-road-accidents.html .
• National Road Safety Commission—Statistics. (2018). Retrieved on 28 th March 2020 from: http://www.nrsc.gov.gh/index.php/statistics .
• Boamah SP. (2013). The hidden cause of road accidents and deaths. Retrieved on 28 th March 2020 from: https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/features/The-hidden-cause-of-road-accidents-and-deaths-282863 .
• Ayerakwa P. (2017). A letter of appeal concerning flooding on Asankran Oda–Breman Road in the Asankrangwa District. Retrieved on 28 th March 2020 from: https://www.modernghana.com/news/781708/a-letter-of-appeal-concerning-flooding-on-asankran.html .
• Ohio University. (2020). A Civil Engineer’s Look at Roads and Highways. USA: Ohio University. Retrieved on 28 th March 2020 from: https://onlinemasters.ohio.edu/blog/a-civil-engineers-look-at-roads-and-highways/ .
• Jamal H. (2016). Highway Engineering & Transportation Engineering Lecture Notes Course Contents. Retrieved on 28 th March 2020 from: https://www.aboutcivil.org/highway-transportation-engineering-lectures-notes.html .
• Yaw A. (2018). Engineers Lament Over The State Of Ghana’s Roads. Retrieved on 28 th March 2020 from: https://www.modernghana.com/news/849842/engineers-lament-over-the-state-of-ghanas-roads.html .
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Contributing Factors to Road Accidents in Ghana

14 Pages Posted: 27 May 2020 Last revised: 10 Jan 2023

Nathaniel Gyimah

St. Joseph Senior High School

Date Written: April 29, 2020

Road accidents in Ghana are taking out the lives of innocent Ghanaians. The causes of this calamity are always different from one point of view to another. This research has been executed to provide expedient information on contributing factors to road accidents in Ghana. The research has made use of predecessors’ works on the causes of road accidents and their effects. Moreover, the study utilised a mixed/integrated approach to research mainly to produce unbiased information. A good collection of data was done through in-depth interviews and questionnaires. Furthermore, convenience and simple random sampling techniques were used. Genuinely, both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to analyse the gathered information. The study engaged two hundred (200) respondents as a sample size that is 100 road safety stakeholders and 100 road users. Moreover, the major contributing factors to road accidents were identified as follows; poor nature of roads, carelessness of road users, faulty vehicles, stress, unskilled drivers, inadequate road signs, inefficient MTTU personnel, speeding, lack of education, drunkenness, and gross indiscipline. Other findings were; Drivers: rash driving, violation of rules, failure to understand signs, fatigue. Pedestrian: carelessness, illiteracy, crossing at wrong places moving on the carriageway, Jaywalkers. Passengers: Projecting their body outside the vehicle, by talking to drivers. Vehicles: failure of brakes or steering, tyre burst, insufficient headlights, overloading, projecting loads. Road conditions: potholes, damaged road, eroded road merging of rural roads with highways. Weather conditions: Fog, snow, heavy rainfall, wind storms, hail storms. Based on the findings, recommendations were stipulated under the following headings; Education, Provision of road signs, Enforcement of traffic and road safety regulations, Avoidance of attitudes/distractions leading to road accidents, Availability of logistics, Construction of good roads, Maintenance of roads and vehicles and Positive development.

Keywords: Contributing Factors, Road Accidents, Speeding, Drunk Driving, Distractions to Driver, Red Light Jumping, Safety Gears, and Seat Belts

Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation

Nathaniel Gyimah (Contact Author)

St. joseph senior high school ( email ).

P.O. BOX 77 Sefwi Datano Sefwi Wiawso, Western North Region WY0003 Ghana WY0003 (Fax)

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Standard responses to road accidents haven’t worked in Ghana: here are some alternatives

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Road traffic accidents remain a major public health and development challenge in Ghana . They are among the top 10 causes of deaths , draining 2.54% of its gross domestic product annually. Some recent reports suggest that between January and July 2021, about 8 deaths and 43 injuries were recorded daily on Ghana’s roads .

The recent surge in road deaths and injuries has ignited demands for a sharper policy focus on road carnage. The conversation, however, appears to be heavily oriented towards doing more of the existing control measures. These are the so-called 3Es: education; enforcement and engineering.

The contemporary science or best practice in road safety management is shifting towards an understanding of the wider societal factors that might impact road safety. It is also about the exploitation of these factors in interventions. This major shift, however, remains inadequately considered in the current search for solutions to make Ghana’s roads safer.

Read more: Why fines and jail time won't change the behaviour of Ghana's minibus drivers

Fixing ‘bad’ drivers is not enough

I set out to explore why Ghana cannot arrest or educate its way out of its road traffic malaise. I argue that the present public policy of hunting for rogue drivers to make roads safer is akin to killing mosquitoes one by one to control malaria. The problem with it, as noted elsewhere , is that the mosquitoes could still keep coming. The best remedy is to drain the swamp that breeds them.

Consider, the troubling issue of drunk driving, for instance, which many a Ghanaian insists could be simply resolved through more arrests, prosecutions and longer prison sentences. A recent study on behavioural influences on driver crash risks in Ghana reported that commercial drivers, forced by poor working conditions to drive for long hours often resort to alcohol and other similar substances to ‘stay alert’.

Undoubtedly, increased policing and imprisonment could help identify and remove some of these drivers from the roads. But that alone will not resolve the precarious working conditions and job insecurities that incentivise inappropriate use of alcohol and other substances as coping mechanisms.

The result of this, as shown elsewhere , is that while some drug and alcohol-affected drivers will be arrested and punished, impact will be minimal. This is because little is done to tackle wider societal influences of their misuse and addiction.

Clearly, fixing the worrying impact of alcohol and other substance abuses on road safety outcomes in Ghana will require thinking beyond the present traditional domains of safety education, and the highly preferred law enforcement-heavy measure of declaring ‘ wars ’ on drivers.

Second, the 3Es often narrow policy options to fixing the behaviour of the usual suspects – drivers and the road environment. The problem with this is that other key actors, processes and practices that also heavily influence safety outcomes are seldom considered.

For instance, from a prevention point of view, does it also matter who fixes or repairs the cars drivers operate? Does it matter who trains them and the nature of the training that gives them power to make quality assurance judgements on vehicles that carry people?

There is also the well-documented exploitation in the commercial passenger transport sector. This solicits and compels unhealthy driving practices from drivers to make as many trips as possible to raise revenue to settle high sales targets set by car owners, cover operational and other costs including police bribes.

The 3Es afford little opportunity to learn from these and other sets of socially organised circumstances that produce harmful driving practices and adverse road safety outcomes in the country.

Moreover, however troubling road trauma is, resource constraints will mean that not all potential solutions can be funded or be meaningfully implemented. Other problems in the country also demand policy resources. This raises the need for careful investment in interventions with the potential to help solve, at the same time, a multiple number of the longstanding problems that continue to resist current interventions.

I show that wider societal level interventions that go beyond the traditional 3Es could yield such outcomes in Ghana. Consider prioritising investment in efficient public transport such as rail and big buses, for instance.

The evidence in countries like Japan suggest that, these transportation options, together with the promotion of non-motorised forms of non-commercial transport such as bicycles, have the potential to reduce meaningfully heavy reliance on private cars – which dominate road traffic crashes in Ghana .

Presently, it is estimated that, together with taxis, private cars occupy more than half of Ghana’s road space . Cutting down the use of private cars through improved public transport systems could yield widespread sustainable safety outcomes. Reducing the number of private cars on the roads means reducing the number of private car-related crashes, injuries and deaths. Also, since private cars occupy a chunk of the road space, reducing their use will significantly bring down the traffic congestion in the cities.

This could result in reducing fatigue born out of long driving resulting from ‘go slows’ (gridlocks). Some evidence has emerged that part of the reason Ghana suffers several highway crash injuries and deaths is that drivers in the country often resort to aggressive driving practices such as over speeding and reckless overtaking to make up for lost time in traffic when they get to the highways.

Reducing private car use, and to that end, traffic congestion through improved public transport could yield positive outcomes on the highways in terms of reduced incidents of reckless overtaking and speeding.

Importantly, reducing heavy dependence on private cars comes with great environmental and climate gains such as reduced air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

Read more: Ghana's road traffic problems have deep and spreading roots

Time to reorganise cities and society

A more fundamental issue is the present land-use patterns and ways of organising the Ghanaian society that solicit and compel unnecessary travelling in the country. The result is that many people are put in harm’s way to travel from their places of residence to submit ‘documents’ , attend ‘meetings’ or conduct petty businesses in Accra and the other cities in which public and other businesses have been centralised.

Mixed-town planning land-use patterns must be encouraged and investments made in technology to cut down unnecessary travel and reduce exposure to crashes.

Clearly, great opportunities exist for reducing road traffic miseries in Ghana that the intent focus on just the 3Es obscures. Road safety education; road traffic regulation enforcement and road engineering are truly important; their impacts are tangible. It, however, may be time to think beyond them.

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Causes of road accident in Ghana

Nowadays, road accidents are a common thing; every day people witness mild and sometimes grotesque road accidents. There are many factors that lead to innumerable causes of road accidents in Ghana. The major causes of road accidents in Ghana are poor driving skills and indiscipline. These causes lead to injuries and can sometimes be fatal. We would like to make you knowledgeable about the major causes of road accidents which shall help you to undertake preventive measures against such incidents.

Although there are many road safety campaigns, there is little or no effect on the rate of road accidents as it is increasing day by day. As per surveys, most of the road accidents in Ghana are due to motor vehicles. Statistics show that 60% of road accidents are caused due to drivers under the influence of alcohol as well as over speeding. However, bad condition of the road, poor maintenance of vehicles, disregard of traffic regulations by most of the drivers, and use of mobile phones while driving are the other causes of road accidents in Ghana. If you are looking for information regarding the main causes of accidents in Ghana for taking necessary safety measures then go through this article.

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Main causes of road accident

There are a number of causes of road accidents which should be seriously considered . Here, we have depicted the major causes of road accidents:

• Poor driving skills is the first major cause of road accidents
• Drivers using mobile phone while driving has caused several road accidents.
• Most of the accidents are caused by the break down of vehicles on the road.
• Indiscipline is yet another cause of road accident in Ghana
• Over-loading of vehicles
• 50% of road accidents happen due to over-speeding
• 10% of a road accident in Ghana are caused due to drunk driving.
• Most of the drivers do not follow traffic regulations. This also leads to accidents on the road

These are the main reasons behind such accidents. Please take into consideration these causes to reduce the number of road accidents in Ghana.

READ ALSO: Akufo-Addo is behind the road accidents in Ghana – Anita Desosoo Author: Michael Hammond

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Common reasons for car accidents

There is no doubt that driving a car with excitement constitutes a high risk. You can face several unwanted consequences, such as permanent injuries, loss of earnings, death, etc. Why not take precautionary measures so you can avoid accidents altogether. If you are a driver and really serious about your life then we are here to help you understand the causes of car accidents. Please take a note of the below reasons for accidents and its preventive measures to avoid such accidents.

1. Over-speeding

Many drivers do not follow the speed limit, they drive 60kph, 70kph, 80kph and sometimes above 90kph which is over the limit for most areas. Over speeding is an easy way to get involved in a car accident. Drivers know the risk but ignore the danger. Traffic engineers as well as federal, state and local governments have determined the maximum speed limit for safe travel, all car drivers need to obey that rule as well as they should consider the consequences before increasing their speed limit.

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2. Drunk driving

This is one of the major causes of car accidents, because when you drink you lose your ability to focus properly while driving a car. It is not only dangerous for the driver but also for other innocent road users. This problem can only be reduced through enlisting strict laws and enforcing them.

If the weather condition is not good then there is a chance of a car accident because water creates slick and dangerous surfaces, the causes of motor vehicle accidents. Drive carefully while it's raining to avoid such these types of accidents.

4. Design defects

No product is ever made perfectly, and cars are no exception. Some products have defects and this can also be the case with cars. Automobiles have hundreds of parts if there is any defect in any part that might cause a serious car accident.

6. Animal crossing

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Animals are not educated like us. They do not know the rules and regulations of the road; wild animals can cross the road at any time. This causes road accidents, so it is up to you to be careful with them. Take caution when you see an animal crossing the road and use high beams when travelling across rural areas at night.

7. Bad roads

The nature of the roads in Ghana is another major factor that contributes to the high accident rates in Ghana. Drivers sometimes try to swerve potholes only to end up in an accident. Having first-grade roads especially in congested urban areas is a must if we want to reduce the level of carnage on our roads.

READ ALSO: The real reason behind Ebony's accident

Human causes of road accidents

Road accidents can turn children into orphans and wipe out the entire family, so, be careful while driving. Whereas, a human being is also the main cause of road accidents because one has the responsibility to control the vehicle properly at the time of driving. Those who are walking on the road also have the responsibility to cross the road carefully. Behavioural factors of humans are the major causes of a road accident. People don't follow the road signs and that can cause a lot of problems. People should be careful with the traffic rules, road condition, mobile phone, etc. They should avoid alcohol while driving. Furthermore, the road-safety authority has the responsibility to do a mid-term review of the road condition to reduce the occurrence of such incidents.

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READ ALSO: Road safety tips you need to know

Mechanical causes of road accident

Mechanical failure in a vehicle is one of the main reasons for road accidents. Here are the top 5 mechanical causes that lead to a road accident.

• Tyres/ wheel problem

There are mainly two types of problems linked to the tyres, they are blowouts and worn tyres. Tyre blowouts can happen due to worn-out, under or over-inflated tyres that causes a sudden burst under heavy pressure or even due to sudden and severe temperature changes. This reduces the ability to control a vehicle all at once leading to a crash. Worn tyres are another type of problem, sometimes, tyres start to wear thin by losing their tread; this can be a major problem on the road. Worn tyres have more chances to slip, take more distance to break and it is not responsive because of their weak grip on the road. Maintaining optimal tyre pressure and replacing tyres before they completely lose their tread are the preventive measures for avoiding mechanical failures on the road.

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Brake-related issue is a common and critical problem. It becomes difficult for a driver to take sudden action to prevent such issues that cause a road accident . To prevent such issues, you have to check thoroughly at least once after every 30,000 miles.

• Headlights/ taillights

If there is any problem in the headlight/ taillight then one will not be able to see properly while driving in the night time. This increases the risk of accidents, vehicle lights are more important even in the daytime while you are preparing to change lanes or intend to slow down for a turn. It is very important for a driver to fix any problem in headlight or taillight with urgency.

• Windshield wipers

Never underestimate the importance of windshield wipers; it is very helpful at the time of heavy rain. During rain, visibility is greatly reduced, at that time windshield wipers help to clear rain drops falling on the front glass and also enhances the level of visibility. However, worn out wiper blades are less effective to clear rain which causes loss of vision, resulting in road accidents.

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• Steering and suspension

Most accidents are caused by steering/suspension/engine-related problems. Why DO accidents happen more due to these problems? The main reason behind this is, it is very difficult to identify. Damage due to suspension caused by wear and tear is difficult to sort out from the damage incurred in a crash. In other words, steering and suspension issues may cause a loss of control when you are completely unprepared.

These are the major causes of road accidents that we are facing in our daily life. It is our humble request to people who ride motor vehicles to be more careful with these causes. Read the causes properly and understand why do accidents happen. This knowledge could save your life.

Source: YEN.com.gh

Chris Ndetei (Lifestyle writer) Christopher Ndetei is a junior reporter writer who joined the Yen team in May 2021. He graduated from the Machakos Technical College in 2009 with a diploma in ICT. Chris has over two years of experience in content creation and more than ten working in the hospitality industry. He covers lifestyle/entertainment, focusing on biographies, life hacks, gaming and guides. In 2023, Christopher finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. You can reach him at [email protected]

Road Traffic Crashes in Ghana 2020-Draft Final Report

  /  

published: Nov. 15, 2022, 11:59 a.m.

This report presents the characteristics of police reported road traffic crashes and the resulting casualties which occurred in Ghana during the period 1991-2020, and in particular for the year 2020. In-depth analysis of the crash data for the year 2020 has been carried out and compared with the previous year, 2019, as well as the year 2001 when the first National Road Safety Strategy (NRSS I) was developed and then also with the year 2011 when the UN Decade of Action on road safety began. Average proportions have also been established for the most recent three years (i.e., 2018 - 2020) for the distribution of casualties and fatalities by age, road user class, road environment and gender to reflect the current crash situations. The statistics further highlight the long term trends in fatality rates, regional distribution of crashes and casualties, road user groups at risk and some key attributes of the crash such as month, day and hour of occurrence as well as the weather, lighting and road conditions prevailing at the time of the crashes. The report further focuses on areas that need to be targeted in order to achieve reduction in road traffic crashes in Ghana.

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Road traffic accidents in Ghana: contributing factors and economic consequences

Affiliations.

• 1 Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital [email protected].
• 2 Department of Medicine & Therapeutics, University of Ghana Medical School [email protected].
• PMID: 33883755
• PMCID: PMC8042801
• DOI: 10.4314/gmj.v54i3.1

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• Analysis of fatal road traffic crashes in Ghana. Ackaah W, Adonteng DO. Ackaah W, et al. Int J Inj Contr Saf Promot. 2011 Mar;18(1):21-7. doi: 10.1080/17457300.2010.487157. Int J Inj Contr Saf Promot. 2011. PMID: 20496189
• Pedestrians' adherence to road traffic regulations on the N1 Highway in Accra, Ghana. Noora CL, Afari EA, Nuoh RD, Adjei EY, Anthony GK, Abdulai M, Sackey SO, Kenu E, Nyarko KM. Noora CL, et al. Pan Afr Med J. 2016 Oct 1;25(Suppl 1):11. doi: 10.11604/pamj.supp.2016.25.1.6184. eCollection 2016. Pan Afr Med J. 2016. PMID: 28149436 Free PMC article.
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• Corpus ID: 129541982

Identification of Factors that Cause Severity of Road Accidents in Ghana: A Case Study of the Northern Region.

• Published 12 July 2012
• Engineering, Environmental Science

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33 Citations

Factors influencing road accidents in sri lanka: a logistic regression approach, analysis of road traffic accidents trend in ghana : causing factors and preventive measures, the impact of roadway conditions towards accident severity on federal roads in malaysia, analysis of causes and consequences of road traffic accidents: the case of gamo gofa zone, southern ethiopia, statistical analysis of severity of motor vehicle accidents in sri lanka, a logistic regression analysis on the influence of accident factors on the fatalities of road accidents in metro manila, determination of the risk factors that influence occurrence time of traffic accidents with survival analysis, analysis of the relationship between traffic accidents with human and physical factors in iraq, an analysis of the enduring factors of road traffic accidents in sri lanka, crash severity modelling using ordinal logistic regression approach, 32 references, analysis of motorcycle accidents in developing countries: a case study of khon kaen, thailand, risk factors affecting the severity of single vehicle traffic accidents in hong kong., using logistic regression to estimate the influence of accident factors on accident severity., rule mining and classification of road traffic accidents using adaptive regression trees, world report on road traffic injury prevention, analysis motorcycle accidents based on environmental and personal factors, analysis of driver injury severity levels at multiple locations using ordered probit models., modeling traffic accident occurrence and involvement., traffic fatalities and injuries : are reductions the result of ‘ improvements ’ in highway design standards , age and gender as predictors of injury severity in head-on highway vehicular collisions, related papers.

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Road traffic crashes and casualties in Ghana 2020

Number of road traffic accidents and casualties in ghana from january to october 2020.

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Contributing factors to road accidents in Ghana

2020, Nathaniel Gyimah

Road accidents in Ghana are taking out the lives of innocent Ghanaians. The causes of this calamity are always different from one point of view to another. This research has been executed to provide expedient information on contributing factors to road accidents in Ghana. The research has made use of predecessors' works on the causes of road accidents and their effects. Moreover, the study utilised a mixed/integrated approach to research mainly to produce unbiased information. A good collection of data was done through in-depth interviews and questionnaires. Furthermore, convenience and simple random sampling techniques were used. Genuinely, both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to analyse the gathered information. The study engaged two hundred (200) respondents as a sample size that is 100 road safety stakeholders and 100 road users. Moreover, the major contributing factors to road accidents were identified as follows; poor nature of roads, carelessness of road users, faulty vehicles, stress, unskilled drivers, inadequate road signs, inefficient MTTU personnel, speeding, lack of education, drunkenness, and gross indiscipline. Other findings were; Drivers: rash driving, violation of rules, failure to understand signs, fatigue. Pedestrian: carelessness, illiteracy, crossing at wrong places moving on the carriageway, Jaywalkers. Passengers: Projecting their body outside the vehicle, by talking to drivers. Vehicles: failure of brakes or steering, tyre burst, insufficient headlights, overloading, projecting loads. Road conditions: potholes, damaged road, eroded road merging of rural roads with highways. Weather conditions: Fog, snow, heavy rainfall, wind storms, hail storms. Based on the findings, recommendations were stipulated under the following headings; Education, Provision of road signs, Enforcement of traffic and road safety regulations, Avoidance of attitudes/distractions leading to road accidents, Availability of logistics, Construction of good roads, Maintenance of roads and vehicles and Positive development.

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Road safety has become a global issue of concern and concrete effort needs to be adopted at the ground level to abate the thousands of lives being lost in road traffic accidents around the world. One of the important and cogent measures for subsidising road crashes fatalities is continuously improving and maintaining good shapes and conditions of our roads. The design of roads plays paramount role in terms of road safety. This study provides strategies and measures that are concrete to tail off the problem through multi-faceted methods which involve effective road engineering solutions at the design stage. The purpose of the study was to assess road infrastructure situation in Ghana and provide effective measures to recede the problem. The study seeks to measure how roads are maintained with frequent relaying of road surfaces and markings of road safety signs and also to assess the condition of pedestrian's footpaths and pedestrians crossing at intersection and measure availability of road signs and signals, pavement, and road lanes. Cross sectional study design was used to collect data. Ashanti region of Ghana was used as a case study. Open and close ended questions and also focus group discussions were used to collect data from the respondents. The study participants were made up of road users (motor vehicle users and pedestrians), and stakeholders within road infrastructure management. The study participants were 217. The study found that, road infrastructure in the region is strongly associated with road traffic accidents in the region.

Kassu Jilcha

This thesis discusses the growing problem of road traffic crashes, particularly in roads from Gelan to Tukurwuha with particular reference to the magnitude, risk factors, interventions and counter possible solutions to so many problems of the roads traffic accidents. The 2004 World Health Report shows that of the 1.2 million people killed in road crash worldwide, 85% are in developing countries. The traffic police of Ethiopia usually reports human error, road environment and vehicle factors as the main causes of road crashes. However, little documentation is available on the broader underlying factors such as deficiencies in the breviaries changes, ineffective road safety legislation and enforcement, systems for data collection and management, and inadequate medical infrastructure for post-injury management in our country. Although a variety of road safety interventions have been successfully applied, little attempt has been made to promote and implement them. Every year, around 400...

Journal of Engineering Research and Reports

Sherry Amedorme

Aim: This study intends to assess drivers’ state of knowledge on the main causes and the best strategies capable of reducing road traffic accidents in the Bongo District of Ghana. Study Design: The study was a descriptive design. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region of Ghana between July 2023 and August 2023. Methodology: The researcher conducted a survey involving 100 drivers who were randomly selected from a driver population of 120 in the Bongo District. The data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel [Version 19]. The results of the data analysis were presented as tables and charts. Results: The study found that the main causes of road traffic accidents emanate from human error such as low driving skills, excessive speeding, and poor vision of driver. Also, road conditions like bad road networks, no lane markings, and no speed limit signs were found as causal factors of road traffic accidents. Faulty vehicles with c...

Samuel Sarkodie

samuel kwakye

Road Traffic Accidents (RTA) keep increasing every year in Ghana. In 2012 alone, 2,249 Ghanaians lost their lives while 14,169 got injured through RTA (Road Safety Commission 2012). The increasing population in Ghana coupled with the increasing vehicle ownership and the use of defective tyres, poor road user attitudes are among the reasons accounting for the alarming rate of RTAs in the country. This study examines the trends in relation to the factors contributing to the alarming rate of RTA. Accident reports collected from the National Road Safety Commission was used as the secondary data for the trend analysis. A total of 2,271,153 RTAs were recorded over the 21 year period and a very strong correlation (R = .852 or 85%) was found between the total number of accidents and their corresponding years. There is a positive correlation between the estimated total number of accidents and their corresponding years indicating the presence of a direct relationship. The pattern of RTAs reve...

IJESMR Journal

Road traffic accidents (RTA) in developing countries such as Ghana have been identified as one of the major causes of death. It has been classified as the second major cause of death apart from malaria and hence urgent attention is needed to curb this menace. This study was carried out to analyze RTA trends, identify causing factors and propose preventive measures. In the study, primary data was obtained from a survey conducted by randomly administering structured questionnaires to 150 drivers and pedestrians. While secondary data was gathered from RTA records for the past 10 years (2005-2014) obtained from the National Road Safety Commission of Ghana. The key findings from the study show that there is an increase in RTA cases for the past 10 years with population growth through the correlation and regression analyses. The regression model indicates clear positive faster increase in RTA trend with population growth in Ghana. In addition, the regional distribution also shows significant differences in RTA cases. The results from the survey indicated that over speeding, over loading and disregard to road signs or regulations are the first-three main RTA causing factors in Ghana with emphasis on safety education as the main preventive measure.

Civil Engineering and Environmental Systems

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Background: Currently Road Traffic Accidents (RTA) are ranked tenth among the leading causes of death and ninth among all leading causes of disability worldwide. There has been no published study on RTA in Gulu municipality. There is a high frequency of RTA in Gulu municipality with poor road design and inadequate knowledge on road safety precaution among road users. Objectives: To establish the causes of Road Traffic Accidents (RTA), establish the safety measures in place to protect road users to avoid RTA and establish people mostly involved and the mechanism of RTA. Design: A cross-sectional study Settings:Four divisions of Gulu Municipality; Layibi, Laroo, Pece and Bardege. Subjects: Two hundred and forty two participants including pedestrians, drivers of different categories of vehicles, motorcyclists and bicyclists locally known as boda-boda and the police were interviewed. Results: Most respondents reported RTA as a problem in Gulu municipality (96%),

Kassu Sileyew

Abdulkadr Ahmed

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Causes Of Road Accidents In Ghana

Concerns have been expressed both on the electronic and print media over the recent spate of road accidents in the country. What is disturbing and disheartening is the fact that the accidents seem to be unending as fresh reports are made almost every day. In all such fatal accidents precious lives are lost, not to count the cost on the economy of Ghana.

It is against this background that, I write to discuss the causes and effects of road accidents in the country and also attempt at suggesting solutions to this national canker.

In my humble and candid opinion, the numerous accidents in the country can be summed up in two thematic factors. These are human and mechanical. Of the two, there is no doubt that the human factor outweighs the mechanical. Since the consequences of both factors have equal repercussions on their victims, they should be discussed thoroughly.

In the first place, in respect to the human factor, most drivers who are involved in fatal road accidents get drunk before they embark on their journeys. Such drunken drivers have poor sense of judgment. As a result they drive recklessly. They care less about road signs and so overtake other vehicles where they are not supposed to do so. This invariably ends in fatal road accidents.er

Notwithstanding, some illiterate drivers are also blamable. They do not understand road signs, let alone interpret them. They do not know when and where to overtake other drivers. Their inability to comprehend road signs breeds accidents. i.e leads to head on collisions. When such accidents occur the vehicles catch fire killing almost every passenger on board (RIP to the Kintampo victims).

Road accidents can also be attributed to over-speeding by drivers. The country experiences a lot of fatal accidents during occasions such as Christmas, Easter, and New Year. Because people travel home on such occasions to meet and reunite with relatives and friends. The drivers, taking advantage of the numerous passengers, drive at top speed in order that they will make more money. Meanwhile, the end results of over-speeding are fatal accidents for we should always remember that “over-speeding kills”.

The other factor which is mechanical also accounts for fatality in road accidents. The fact that some over aged vehicles are allowed to ply our roads is a serious issue. Certain parts of such vehicles break down on the roads resulting in accidents. This, if not curtail will continue to cause fatal accidents on our roads.

However, these accidents have damning consequences on the citizenry. Relative to this, the human resource base is reduced which in the long run affects productivity because some skilled workers are lost as it happened on the Tamale-Kintampo road recently.

In conclusion, I would like to suggest that the police should ensure that only road-worthy vehicles are allow to operate on our roads and in-service training given to the drivers. If these safety precautions are followed, fatal accidents will be reduced drastically.

Thank you. David Alhassan MBA Student, University of Cape Coast. Ghana

This Author has 2 publications here on modernghana.com Column: David Alhassan

Disclaimer:  "The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect ModernGhana official position. ModernGhana will not be responsible or liable for any inaccurate or incorrect statements in the contributions or columns here." Follow our WhatsApp channel for meaningful stories picked for your day.

There are enough blame to go around for all these deadly vehicular accidents in Ghana. Well, there are your bad roads with poor road signs. Your have your share of very bad drivers. There are those very poorly maintained vehicles plying your poor roads. Law enforcement on the roads are compromised and corrupt. Citizens show ignorance of road safety rules or don't even bother paying any attention to it.

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