Road Safety Authority calls for free medical care for road crash victims
The Acting Director General of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Mr. David Osafo Adonteng, has called on the government to absorb the medical bills of road crash victims, emphasizing the need for intervention to support those still on admission and others facing life-long incapacitation due to financial constraints.
Mr. Adonteng made this plea during a Road Safety Awareness Campaign Walk held on Saturday to commemorate the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (WDR) 2023.
The event was organized in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service, Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), National Ambulance Service, Ghana Red Cross Society, Bloomberg Initiative, CUTS International, and RANA Motors.
The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims is observed on the third Sunday of November each year.
It serves as a global event to remember the millions who have lost their lives or suffered severe injuries on the world’s roads.
The day also honors the dedicated emergency crews, police, and medical professionals who respond to the aftermath of road crashes.
This year’s focus is on justice, urging authorities to apply the necessary laws and regulations to prosecute offenders.
Mr. Adonteng stressed the importance of enforcing road safety laws to achieve the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety’s goal of reducing road crash deaths and injuries by 50% by 2030.
While acknowledging a reduction in road crash statistics for the current year compared to the previous one, Mr. Adonteng reiterated the NRSA’s commitment to ongoing campaigns and enforcement to further enhance road safety.
As the Christmas season approaches, he urged caution among road users, emphasizing the potential dangers of increased trips by drivers seeking to maximize profits.
He advised motorists to minimize speed limits, wear protective gear, and for parents to protect their children, especially when crossing roads.
Mr. Adonteng also urged Ghanaians to be advocates for road safety and called on the police to intensify their presence on the roads to enforce compliance with road safety laws.
The NRSA plans to enforce laws such as the use of two drivers for long-distance trips and the use of logbooks indicating the drivers’ journey details.
ADO 1 Odame of the GNFS, present at the event, encouraged the NRSA and stakeholders to identify and share road crash hotspots with the Fire Service for closer attention.
He pledged the GNFS’s commitment to supporting road safety initiatives in the coming year.
Road users were urged to report emergencies promptly by dialing emergency hotline numbers 112, 192, or 0299346014.
