NRSA, Police Intensify Nationwide Road Safety Visibility Programme Ahead of Easter
By Maame Efua Kwaduah
The National Road Safety Authority, in collaboration with the Motor Traffic and Transport Department, has launched a nationwide Road Safety Visibility Programme to intensify education and enforcement to promote safer road use across the country.
The exercise, currently taking place on major highways including the Accra–Aflao road, comes in response to the increasing number of road traffic crashes and casualties, particularly along high-risk corridors.
Speaking during the exercise, the Director of Research, Monitoring and Evaluation at the National Road Safety Authority, Alexander Ayatah, said festive periods such as Easter, Christmas and Eid are often associated with increased road crashes due to speeding, drink driving, fatigue and reckless driving.
According to him, the Authority is using the Easter period to intensify public education and enforcement to help ensure an accident-free festive season.
He urged drivers to avoid speeding, drink driving, reckless driving and fatigue, stressing that road safety is a shared responsibility. He also advised passengers to act as co-drivers by speaking up when drivers engage in dangerous driving.
Mr. Ayatah noted that the Authority, in collaboration with the police and other stakeholders, will sustain the road safety education and enforcement campaign throughout the year and not only during festive seasons.
He, however, indicated that funding remains a major challenge to the Authority’s operations, explaining that some activities could not be carried out last year due to lack of funds, but the Authority has received some funding this year to continue the campaign.
He therefore called on government to invest more in road safety, stressing that Ghana cannot afford to continue losing its human resource to preventable road crashes, which also have a significant impact on the country’s economy.
The nationwide Visibility Programme will focus on sensitising commercial drivers, private motorists, motorcyclists and pedestrians on road safety practices, including compliance with speed limits, traffic regulations, seatbelt and helmet use, and the avoidance of distracted and impaired driving.
On his part, Staff Officer at the Motor Traffic and Transport Department, DSP Oppong Kyekyeku, said the Police are prioritising both enforcement and public education to promote safer road use.
He urged drivers to strictly adhere to speed limits and warned against the use of high beam lights at night, explaining that it affects the visibility of oncoming drivers and increases the risk of accidents.
DSP Oppong Kyekyeku also cautioned drivers, especially commercial drivers, against reckless driving and dangerous overtaking, noting that such behaviours remain major causes of road crashes in the country.
He emphasised that compliance with traffic regulations is key to reducing accidents and saving lives.
