Review Blood Alcohol Concentration level for drivers- Obeng

By Christabel Oboshie ANNAN, Accra

Head of Research at CUTS International, Isaac Yaw Obeng has called for the amendment of the Road Traffic Act, 2004 (Act 683), particularly, the Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) levels to be reduced from 0.08 mg/ml to 0.05 mg/ml to conform with the World Health Organization (WHO) standards.

This according to him will offer Ghanaians an opportunity to lower the number of traffic incidents related to drink driving as it constitutes 10 per cent of total road crashes in Ghana.

He made this call at a workshop organised by CUTS International, a Public Policy think tank in partnership with the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Bloomberg philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety and Global Road Safety Partnership to build the capacity of Journalists on road safety reporting.

Isaac Yaw Obeng noted that the greater the Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC), the greater the average speed of the driver and the greater the severity of the crash.

He explained that the regular and prominent enforcement of the 0.05 mg/ml limit is essential as findings have revealed that adults are impaired at 0.05 BAC level while driving.

He added that the behavioral consequences associated with alcohol intoxication include impaired driving leading to road accidents, acts of aggression and violence towards self and others.

He indicated that intoxicated drivers are significantly more likely to speed, to be improperly seat-belted and to drive the striking vehicle.

The Head of Research at CUTS International stated that most countries across the globe have revised their BAC limit from 0.08 mg/ml to 0.05 mg/ml to conform to WHO standards, hence the revision of Ghana’s Road Traffic Act.

He mentioned that a strong public awareness campaign such as effective public education campaigns by Journalists can help to highlight the dangers of drunk driving to reduce road crashes in the country.

Away from the topic, the Public Relations Officer at the National Road Safety Authority, Pearl Adusu urged Journalists to be conversant with the safe system approach in reporting on road crashes.

She stated that it is important to emphasis the safety of people, safety of vehicles, safer roads, safe speed and post-crash care in reportages as it helps to influence policies concerning road issues.

She added that it is essential that journalists and the public consider road safety issues as a health problem.

“When we start seeing road safety issues as health issues we will look at it from a different angle” she said.

The Communications Officer at the Bloomberg philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety, Mavis Obeng Mensah also urged journalists to highlight the human element in crashes more than the numbers.

This according to her will help citizens to appreciate and see road crash issues as a matter of human lives instead of just the numbers.

She advised Journalists to also avoid victim blaming no matter what happens because victims are not protected.

She added that Journalists should avoid speculation especially when road crashes occur and pay attention to significant sources such as the Police and witnesses.

She further advised that Journalists should pursue solution journalism- rigorous evidence-based reporting on existing responses to a social problem.