Ghana: 2, 171 crashed to death in 11 months

Provisional data compiled by the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service (GPS) shows that the number of commuters killed in road traffic crashes recorded in the first 11 months of declined by 18.2% compared to the same period of 2021.
An improvement in enforcement by the MTTD and increase in awareness creation by the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) are largely responsible for the reduction.

Fatalities dropped from 2,654 last year to 2, 171 between January and November 2022.

1,708 males killed

The data also shows that 1,708 males made up of 196 below the ages of 18 and 1,512 who are 18 years and above were killed.

463 females killed

Similarly, 463 females comprising  102 who are 18 years and below, as well as 361 aged 18 years and above, also died from road crashes.

For every 1 female killed, 4 males get killed

The data reveals a ratio of 1:4.  Thus, for every 1 female killed, 4 males are killed.

This shows a similar trend to past years of higher fatalities for males than for females.

Distribution of road traffic fatalities

Per distribution of road traffic fatalities by age, 298 (14%) persons below the age of 18 years killed were whilst 1,873 (86%) were reported to have been adults (above 18 years).

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 data shows decreasing trends in fatalities for the period of January to November 2022 and 2021.

In 2022, the peak month for fatalities was March with 265 deaths as compared to 273 deaths in February for 2021.

In terms of months with the least number of fatalities, July recorded the least with 143 deaths as against 185 deaths in August 2021.

It is worth noting that the monthly trend in Fatalities shows a significant margin of decrease (18.42%) for the month of November 2022 as compared to November 2021.

Commercial vehicles kill 740

Commercial vehicles killed 740 commuters, representing 34%.

Private vehicles kill 539

Also, private vehicles claimed the lives of 539, representing 25%.

Motorcycles killed 892 (41%)

Motorcycles killed the highest number of commuters totalling 892, representing 41%.

This implies that motorcyclists and their pillion riders are more exposed to road traffic deaths than other road user groups like commercial passengers, private vehicle occupants and pedestrians.

Monthly distribution of crashes involving motorcycles from January to

November 2022 shows an improving trend (decreasing) in the number of motorcycles involved in crashes, with a reduction by three motorcycles every month within the 11-month period in 2022.

619 Pedestrians killed

Pedestrians killed in the 11 months of this year was 619, representing 29% of total.

Analyses of pedestrian related crashes for January to November 2022 compared to 2021 shows that a total of 2,435 pedestrians were knocked down from January to November, 2022.

This represents a decrease of 9.58% over the situation for the same period in 2021 (2,693 knockdowns).

In respect of pedestrians 2,435 were knocked down while walking along/crossing the road.

Private vehicles top crashes

A total of 13,675 road traffic crashes were reported from January to November 2022.

It is made up of 7,925 commercial vehicles representing 34% were involved in crashes and 10,628 private vehicles representing 45% and 4,976 Motorcycles which constitutes 21% were involved.

Cases reported, vehicles involved, persons killed, persons injured and pedestrian knockdowns decreased by 7.19%, 6.37%, 18.20%, 1.07%, 9.58% respectively from January to November 2022 when compared to the same period of 2021.

Private Vehicles constituted the largest proportion of vehicles involved in crashes from January to November 2022.

The proportions of all the vehicle types involved in crashes for commercial vehicles, private vehicles and motorcycles decreased by 9.85%, 1.12% and 11% respectively when compared to the same period last year (2021).
Analysis on categories of Vehicles Involved in crashes shows that motorcycles (Two/Three wheelers) constituted the least (21%) 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.

11% decreases in crashes

From January to November 2022, there was a general reduction of 11% in crash involvement for all types of motorcycles.

However, motorbikes (only 2 wheelers) constituted 75% of crashes involving all cycles whilst tricycles contributed 20%.

Bicycles and handcarts constituted 3% and 2% respectively

Monthly trends in road traffic crashes from January to November 2022 and 2021, shows a decrease in crashes in 2022.

The trend line for 2021 also displays a slight decrease in crashes.

Whilst April recorded the highest number of crashes (1,467) in 2021, February had the highest number of crashes of 1,354 for 2022.

On the other hand, the lowest number of crashes were recorded in August (1,074) and November (1,110) for 2021 and 2022 respectively.

Greater Accra recorded highest deaths

From January to November, Greater Accra Region contributed the most to crashes and fatalities

Savannah, Northern, North East, and Central Regions recorded increases in crashes by 54.39%, 15.54%, 4%, and 3.56% respectively for the period January to November 2022 compared to the same period of 2021.

The remaining regions recorded decreases over the same period.

Upper West Region had the highest percentage decrease with 46.34% whilst Savannah recorded the highest percentage increase of 54.39%.

Regions with drop in crashes

North East, Western North, Northern and Oti Regions had increases in deaths from January to November 2022 with 61.54%, 15.49%, 7.02%, and 5 % respectively when compared to the same period of 2021 and the remaining regions had decreases, with Upper East Region recording the highest percentage decrease by 54.12%

Injuries decline

The percentage changes in injuries sustained in road traffic crashes also decreased from January to November 2022 compared to the same period of 2021.

The trend lines for both 2022 and 2021 show a decline in injuries over the 11-month period.

In terms of peak months, February recorded 1,426 as the peak month for injuries in 2022 whilst that for 2021 was April (1,458).

The month of November recorded the least number of injuries in 2022 with 1,130 injuries and again the month of August in 2021 with 1,045 injuries.

Regions with decrease in injuries

Upper West Region had the highest percentage decrease of 50% each followed by Upper East Region with 36.64 % decrease.

Oti Region recorded the highest increase in injuries sustained with 173.68%, followed by Northern and North East Regions with 51.27 % and 31.37% respectively.