Avoid over speeding, use of TikTok, WhatsApp while driving – NRSA cautions drivers

Speeding has become a leading cause of road crashes in Ghana, with alarming statistics highlighting its devastating consequences.

Between January and March 2025 alone, the country recorded 752 fatalities and more than 4,000 injuries due to road accidents.

The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has raised concerns over the increasing rate of crashes, attributing them to reckless behaviors such as excessive speeding, failure to wear helmets, drunk driving, and neglecting seat belts.

Beyond the tragic loss of lives, road accidents also pose a severe economic burden. In 2024, Ghana incurred an estimated $23.2 billion in losses due to road crashes.

At a training workshop for journalists in Accra, the NRSA revealed that 82% of fatalities involved vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, motorcyclists, and bicyclists. Police reports indicate that regions such as Greater Accra, Ashanti, and Eastern recorded higher numbers of accidents in 2024 compared to the previous year.

Martin Afram, Director of Planning and Programs at NRSA, urged Ghanaian youths, cyclists, and drivers to adhere to speed limits, warning that violators would face strict sanctions.

“When it comes to sanctions on road traffic offences, the Road Traffic Act and the Road Traffic Regulations outline penalties that must be enforced. If you commit an offence on our roads, rest assured that when caught, you will be sanctioned appropriately according to the law,” he emphasized.

Afram also cautioned against distracted driving, particularly the rising trend of using TikTok and WhatsApp while behind the wheel.

“We urge all road users to be mindful of their speed and drive or ride within the prescribed limits. A troubling new habit is the use of TikTok and WhatsApp while driving, which causes dangerous inattentiveness on the road. We implore everyone to refrain from these distractions while behind the wheel, wait until you’ve reached your destination. It is better to arrive in one piece than in pieces,” he advised.

Ing. Samuel Boamah Danquah, Senior Manager at Vital Strategies, expressed concerns about the obstruction of pedestrian walkways, which forces people onto roads and increases the risk of accidents.

He stressed the importance of using designated walkways and incorporating proper road design elements to ensure safe mobility, particularly for vulnerable individuals.

“When it comes to sanctions on road traffic offences, the road traffic act and the road traffic regulations have provisions that relate to sanctions. So, if you commit a crime or offense on our roads, be rest assured, when you’re accosted you will be sanctioned appropriately, according to the law,” Mr Danquah said.

By Beatrice Sowah

The post Avoid over speeding, use of TikTok, WhatsApp while driving – NRSA cautions drivers first appeared on 3News.

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