Driver Attitudes Largely to Blame for Road Crashes
By: Solomon Nartey Tetteh
The Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS), has revealed that Ghana’s high rate of road traffic crashes can be largely attributed to the negative attitudes of drivers toward road safety regulations. The National Road Safety Authority has consistently reported that over 80% of road crashes in Ghana are caused by human error, mainly due to reckless driving, speeding, drunk driving, disregard for traffic rules, and general indiscipline. The MTTD also reports similar findings. Most of their data highlight speeding, inattentiveness, and failure to observe road signs as the major causes of crashes.
According to BIGRS, while road infrastructure and vehicle conditions play a role, it is ultimately drivers’ disregard for basic traffic rules and lack of discipline behind the wheel that fuel many of the avoidable accidents witnessed across the country.
Speaking on Business Breakfast on Zed, Communications Officer of Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety, Mavis Obeng Mensah highlighted the urgent need for behavioral change among motorists.
Her comments come at a time when Ghana joins the rest of the world to observe the 8th United Nations Global Road Safety Week, a campaign aimed at raising awareness about road safety and advocating for stronger policies to prevent road crashes.
This year’s observance has seen intensified efforts by stakeholders, including government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and road safety advocates to promote safer driving habits and reduce fatalities on Ghana’s roads.
Ms. Obeng Mensah pointed to a growing body of evidence showing that the majority of road crashes in Ghana are not due to mechanical faults or poor road conditions, but to human error, often driven by impatience, recklessness, and a lack of respect for the law.
“If drivers adhered strictly to road safety regulations, we would see a drastic reduction in the number of lives lost on our roads. It’s time we take responsibility, not just as drivers, but as a society that values life,” she emphasized.
She also called for continuous public education, stricter enforcement of traffic laws, and stiffer penalties for violations, especially in high-risk areas.
The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) and other partners are expected to roll out new safety interventions as part of this year’s Road Safety Week, including community sensitization programs and enforcement campaigns. With thousands of lives lost annually to road crashes in Ghana, experts say changing driver behavior remains one of the most cost-effective and impactful ways to improve road safety nationwide.
