The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) is alarmed by the increasing number of widows caused by road crashes, which mostly involve male fatalities.
Recent NRSA data shows that from January to July 2024, men represented about 79% of road fatalities, while women made up 21%.
The data revealed a ratio of 1:4, thus, for every 1 female killed, 4 males were killed.
At the launch of the Road Safety Code of Practice for political activities in Accra on August 22, the Director of Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation at the NRSA, Daniel Wuaku, urged women to champion road safety.
He emphasized that women frequently suffer the consequences of road fatalities, often shouldering the emotional and practical burdens of losing their partners.
“Women account for only 21% of the deaths recorded between January and July 2024, with men comprising 79%. This means we are seeing an increase in the number of widows,” Mr Wuaku said.
“It’s time for women to take a stand in advocating for road safety because they are the ones who suffer the most. We need your support in this effort.”
About the road safety code for political parties
Data from the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) reveal a troubling trend: election years see a spike in road crash fatalities.
This increase is largely attributed to the disregard for traffic regulations by political party supporters during campaign periods.
The NRSA attributes this rise in accidents to speeding and overloading of vehicles with campaign supporters. Statistics show that since 2000, road crashes, injuries, and deaths have surged during election years compared to non-election years.
For example, in December 2016, there were 100 crashes involving 157 vehicles, resulting in 44 deaths—a 15.6% increase from 2015.
In 2020, 44 people died and 169 were injured in 155 crashes, marking a 21.9% rise from the previous year.
Notably, all but one election year since 2000 has seen higher rates of crashes and fatalities compared to surrounding years.
For instance, deaths increased by 27.4% in 2004 compared to 2003, though there was a 5.1% decrease in 2008 compared to 2007. In 2012, deaths rose by 1.9% compared to 2011.
To address this issue, the NRSA launched the ‘Road Safety Code of Practice for Political Activities’ in Accra on August 22, 2024.
This code mandates that political parties ensure their vehicles are well-maintained and operated by qualified drivers.
With the December elections approaching, there is a strong push for political parties to integrate this code into their campaign strategies to help reduce road crash fatalities during the election season.