Exclusive: Motorcycles make up 45% of road accident deaths in first half of year

Motorcycles continue to increase the country’s road accident fatalities despite having the least number of reported cases of accidents.

Motorcycles accounted for approximately 45% of the total 1,454 fatalities recorded for the half-year of 2021, according to a report exclusively sighted by The Ghana Report.

The motorcycle deaths for the first half of 2021 was 104 more than the 518 deaths recorded for commercial vehicles and 308 more than the deaths recorded for private vehicles, respectively.

The half-year report for 2021 by the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service indicates that 622 motorcycle deaths were recorded from the 3,157 accidents recorded from January to June 2021.

2,481 persons were also injured from motorcycle accidents from the half-year report, which is more than the 1,768 injuries reported for private vehicles.

However, the number of victims who were injured through commercial vehicle crashes toppled that of motorcycles and private vehicles. Some 3,939 were injured in accidents involving commercial vehicles.

Data from the half-year report also shows that accident cases recorded among both commercial and private vehicles, as well as motorcycles, have all increased, compared to the figures recorded for the same period in 2020.

The number of motorcycle accidents saw a 23.76% rise from 2,551 in June last to 3,157 in June this year.

Commercial vehicles had 4,151 accidents in June 2020 but increased by 19.20% to 4,948 in June 2021.

Private vehicles equally recorded a rise in the number of reported accidents from 4,430 in June 2020 to 5,868 in June 2021. This represents a percentage change of 32.46%, making it the highest among the three categories of accidents reported.

Half-year road accidents for 2021

Within the first six months of 2021, the MTTD has recorded 8,188 road accidents across the country, involving 13,973 vehicles and motorbikes.

Of the number of vehicles, those in private use had the highest reported cases of 5,868, followed by commercial vehicles, which recorded 4,948 cases.

Motorcycles, however, recorded 3,157, the least number of reported road accidents from January to June 2021.

Regional breakdown

At the regional level, only the Accra and Ashanti Regions had more than a thousand accidents within the first half of 2021.

Accra recorded 2,809 of the total accidents reported for the half-year, with 1,951 categorised as minor accidents, 741 as serious accidents and with 217 deaths.

In the Ashanti region, 1,826 accidents were reported, which had 985 minor accident victims, with 591 suffering serious injuries, while 250 people lost their lives.

Eastern Region had 811 accidents, and 190 deaths; Tema recorded 657 accidents, 91 91; Central saw 504 accidents, 87 deaths and the Western Region recorded 438, with 56 victims losing their lives.

In others, the Volta Region saw 214 accidents, 42 deaths; Western North, 155 accidents, 33 deaths; Bono East, 153 accidents, 60 deaths; Ahafo, 126 accidents, 31 deaths; Upper East, 116 accidents, 50 deaths and Bono, 98 accidents, 37 deaths.

Both the Northern and Upper West Regions recorded 92 accident cases, but 26 people died in the latter region, compared to the Northern Region, where 15 of the victims died.

The Oti and Savannah regions recorded 47 and 31 road accidents respectively. Nonetheless, the victims who died in Savannah were 12, which is two more than the 10 victims who died in Oti.

READ ALSO: 1,250 People Killed In Road Accidents In Five Months; Eight Lives Daily

Impact of road accidents

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), approximately 1.3 million people die each year because of road traffic crashes.

More than 90% of road traffic deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, with road traffic injury death rates are highest in the African region.

The WHO also notes that road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5-29 years.

Economically, it is estimated that road traffic crashes cost most countries 3% of their gross domestic product (GDP).

Road traffic injuries also cause considerable economic losses to individuals, their families, and to nations as a whole.

These losses arise from the cost of treatment as well as lost productivity for those killed or disabled by their injuries, and for family members who need to take time off work or school to care for the injured.

WHO recommendations for road safety

Considering the impact of road accidents on economies, the WHO has urged governments across the world to adopt a multi-sector approach to address the menace in a holistic manner to save lives and propel economic growth.

This should include transport sector players, the police, health institutions, coupled with education and actions that address the safety of roads, vehicles, and road users.

The WHO opines that effective interventions include designing safer infrastructure and incorporating road safety features into land-use and transport planning, and improving the safety features of vehicles.

Other interventions are improving post-crash care for victims of road crashes, setting and enforcing laws relating to key risks, and raising public awareness.

Some major accidents in 2021

A road crash in February killed 17 passengers and injured 44 others early Wednesday, February 3. The accident involved two buses with registration numbers GT 3345-16 and AC 1699-20.

They were travelling from Kumasi to Zebila and from Garu to Kumasi, respectively, when they ran into each other.

Nineteen people were reported dead within 12 hours after two bloody road accidents at separate locations also in February.

Three fatalities were recorded in the Central Region and 16 in the Eastern Region on Friday, February 26, 2021.

Sixteen people are reported dead in a crash at Akim Asafo on the Accra-Kumasi Highway.

According to a police report, 13 males and 3 females died. The road carnage happened at about 1:30 am on Friday, February 26.

Five people died on the spot after an accident at Obretema in the Suhum Municipality involving a Mercedes Sprinter Bus.

They were travelling to Accra from Kumasi on the bus with registration number GW 7444 – 21 when the crash occurred at about 2:30 pm on Sunday, April 11.

According to the police, one of the car tyres burst, causing the driver, 35-year-old Eric Ohemang, to lose control.

Twelve people perished, while seven others sustained serious injuries after an accident on the Buipe-Tamale highway.

Eleven died on the spot, including an eight-year-old girl at Alipe in the Central Gonja District of the Savannah Region.

A Toyota minibus with registration number AS 2872-20 veered off its lane and collided head-on with a DAF tipper truck with registration number NR 578 loaded with sand.

There were 18 persons on board, travelling from Tamale to Kumasi.