NRSA develops code of practice for political parties to reduce election-related road crashes and deaths

The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has launched a ‘Road Safety Code of Practice for Political Activities’ to help in reducing deaths during the campaign season.

It serves as a guide for politicians, parties and their supporters to promote safety on the road as they prepare for the December elections.

This follows a trend of high deaths that are recorded during election years due to the disregard for road traffic rules and regulations by political parties in the heat of election campaigns.

According to the Director-General of the Authority, David Osafo Adonteng, the code requires designated persons within the leadership of political parties to ensure that all vehicles are in good condition before they are allowed to be on the road, including ensuring that only professionally qualified drivers handle roadworthy vehicles.

He has made a strong call for the political parties to mainstream the code of practice in their election campaign strategies to help reduce deaths in this year’s election season.

In making Ghana’s road transportation system the safest, the code seeks to “reduce incidence of road traffic crashes, fatalities and injuries through the promotion, development and coordination of road safety policies.”

The National Road Traffic Crash and Casualty Statistics indicates that during the 2016 general election, road crashes increased by approximately 11%, with injuries increasing by 14% and fatalities by 9% compared to the previous year.

Similarly, in 2020, road crashes surged by 10% in the months leading up to the elections, resulting in a significant increase in both injuries and deaths.

The Global Status Report on Road Safety, WHO 2023, adds that the economic impact of traffic crashes is estimated to cost between 3-5% of Ghana’s GDP.

“Global best practices show that there is a relationship between political commitment and an improvement of the road safety situation of a country. Without political will and participation, the effective systems required to improve road safety will suffer delays at the expense of human lives and properties,” the NRSA noted.

High number of deaths in election years

Data from the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) show that election years record high cases of deaths through road crashes.

This has been blamed on the blatant disregard for road traffic regulations by supporters of political parties during the campaign period.

The NRSA explained that the high carnage on the roads in the heat of election campaign is also due to speeding and overloading of vehicles with party supporters.

According to statistics from the Authority, Ghana has recorded higher numbers of road crashes each election year since 2000 with injuries and deaths higher than non-election years.

The statistics

In 2016, 44 people died in 100 crashes involving 157 vehicles during the election period in December, representing a 15.6 per cent increase over the same period in 2015.

Likewise, in 2020, 44 persons died while 169 sustained injuries in 155 crashes recorded, an increase of 21.9 per cent over the previous year.

The statistics further showed that since 2000, all but one election year recorded higher crashes, injuries and deaths as compared to previous and ensuing years.

In 2004, the deaths increased by 27.4 per cent as compared to 2003; in 2008, it decreased by 5.1 per cent compared to 2007; while in 2012, it increased by 1.9 per cent.

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