1,668 killed in road traffic crashes in the first 9 months of 2023

Road traffic crashes between January and September 2023 have killed 1,668 commuters.

This is 7.4% decrease compared to the 1,801 killed during the first nine months of 2022.

The month fatalities are January- 171, February-150, March-233, April-181, May-175, June-186, July-186, August-161 and September-235.

The significant margin of decrease in deaths/fatalities recorded in the January to September of 2023 (7.4%) could be largely attributed to the level of reductions recorded in deaths by 10.1%, 7.9% and 9.2% in the Greater Accra, Ashanti and Eastern regions respectively.

This gives an indication that the crashes recorded in these regions from January to September 2023 were less severe as compared to same period in 2022.

Data compiled by the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service and analysed by the National Road Safety Authority showed that 1,320 (79%) males and 348 (21%) females were killed from January to September 2023

The data reveals a ratio of 1:4 which means for every one female killed, four males are killed.

This reflects similar trends in past years of higher fatalities for males than for females

The records show that from January to September, 225 (13%) persons killed were below the age of 18 years whilst 1,443 (87%) were reported to have been adults (above 18years).

This indicates that for every six adults above 18-years killed; a child below 18-years is killed revealing a relatively high road traffic death ratio of 6:1 for adults than for children within the period.

This is partly due to the high risk of exposure of adults to traffic incidences as compared to children.

The analysis reveal an increasing trend in the number of deaths recorded from January to September 2023 and a decreasing trend in the number of deaths for the same period in 2022.

The rate of increase for 2023 is approximately 10 deaths per month compared to the rate of decrease for 2022 which is 4 deaths per month as shown in the trend lines above.

10,587 road traffic crashes

A total of 10,587 road traffic crashes were reported from January to September 2023.

Categories of vehicles

These crashes involved 18,011 vehicles of all categories (Private, Commercial, Motorbikes/Cycles, etc.), and 13,312 casualties (1,668 fatalities/deaths and 11,644 injuries)

In respect of cases reported, vehicles involved, persons killed, persons injured and pedestrian knockdowns, they decreased by 6.6%, 7.6%, 7.4%, 1.2% and 5.2% respectively from January to September 2023 when compared to the same period of 2022.

Out of the 10,587 road traffic crashes reported from January to September 2023, 54% (5,678) were minor crashes, 33% (3,527) were serious crashes and the remaining 13% (1,382) were fatal crashes.

Slight increase in crashes

Per the records, there is a slight increase in the number of crashes recorded from January to September 2023 compared to January to September in 2022.

Slight increase in injuries

The trend lines also indicate a slight increase in the number of injuries recorded from January to September in 2023 as compared to a significant increase in injuries recorded over nine months.

1,861 pedestrians knocked down

A total of 1,861 pedestrians were knocked down from January to September 2023.

This represents a decrease of 5.2% over the situation for the same period in 2022 (1,964 knockdowns).

It is worthy to note that all vehicle categories recorded decreases in the numbers involved in crashes in 2023 as compared to 2022.

Specifically, commercial vehicles, private vehicles and motorcycles crash involvement reduced by 6.3%, 2.9% and 3.6% whilst commercial vehicles increased by 6.8% respectively in 2023 when compared to 2022.

Private vehicles constituted the largest proportion of vehicles involved in crashes from January to September 2023, representing 45%, followed by commercial vehicles with 33% and motorcycles with the least proportion of 22%.

The proportions of all the vehicle types involved in crashes, that is, commercial vehicles, private vehicles and motorcycles decreased by 10.7%, 6.4% and 5.1% respectively when compared to the same period last year (2022).

Cumulatively, from January and September 2023, there was a general reduction of 7.6% in crash involvement for all types of motorcycles.

However, motorbikes (only 2 wheelers) constituted 74% of crashes involving all cycles whilst tricycles contributed 21%.

Bicycles and handcarts constituted four per cent and one per cent respectively.

Analyses on categories of vehicles involved in crashes show that motorcycles (Two/Three wheelers) constituted the least (22%) of all vehicles involved.

This notwithstanding, the share of motorbike/motorcycle crashes is alarming taking into consideration the population of motorcycles (two/three wheelers) of the total vehicle population.

Regional figures

Upper West, Upper East, Volta, Western, and Western North Regions recorded increases in crashes by 55.6%, 14.9%, 11.5%, 9.3% and 7.1% respectively from January to September 2023 compared to the same period of 2022.

The remaining regions recorded decreases over the same period and Savanna Region had the highest percentage decrease with 36%.

The percentage changes in injuries sustained in road traffic crashes from January to September 2023 compared to the same period of 2022.

Volta Region had the highest percentage increase of 56.1% followed by Western Region with 27.6 % increase.

Northern Region recorded the highest decrease in injuries sustained rising to 53.9%.

Upper East, Volta, Western, North East and Bono East Regions had increases in deaths from January to September 2023 with 51.5%, 50.8%, 25.7%, 25% and 20% respectively when compared to the same period of 2022.

The remaining regions had decreases, with Oti Region recording the highest percentage decrease of 52.4%.

Generally, there have been reductions in all major indicators except for cases reported, persons killed and pedestrian knockdowns for September 2023, whilst reductions were recorded in all major indicators for January to September 2023 compared with the same period in 2022.

It can therefore be concluded that the outlook for Crashes, Injuries and Deaths (CIDs) for the period under review is positive.

Moreover, among the major indicators; crashes, injuries, deaths, vehicles involved, persons injured and pedestrian knockdowns, total vehicles involved in crashes realized the widest margin of decline (7.6%) for the period January to September 2023.

It is also worthy to note that the number of private vehicles involved in crashes has seen a consistent decline in its crash involvement which hitherto was recording increases in crash involvement compared to Commercial Vehicles and Motorcycles.

Measures should therefore be sustained in these strategic regions to help reduce the numbers at the national Level

Categories of Road Traffic Crashes

Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs) have been categorized under Fatal, Serious or Minor depending on the severity of the casualties.

Fatal Crashes are crashes which have resulted in the death of at least one person/victim of the crash within 30 days of the crash.

Serious Crashes are crashes which have resulted in a serious injury of at least one person/victim of the crash leading to hospitalization of at least 24 hours.

Minor Crashes are crashes which have resulted in a minor injury of at least one person/victim of the crash leading to hospitalization of less than 24 hours or no injuries at all.