The Central Regional Office of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) conducted a road safety education campaign in Cape Coast to educate pedestrians on road crossing protocols.
During the campaign, flyers and posters were distributed to pedestrians, school children, and drivers, and they were guided through the techniques of safe road crossing to prevent avoidable accidents.
The exercise began at Pedu junction along the Takoradi-Cape Coast-Accra highway and concluded at St. Nicholas Anglican Junior High School.
Officials from NRSA, together with the Motor Traffic and Transport Department of the Ghana Police Service and Solidarity for Humanity International (SHI), a non-profit organization focused on road safety awareness, conducted the campaign.
The event was part of the activities commemorating the 7th UN Road Safety Week, which started on May 15 and ended on May 21.
This year's theme highlighted the importance of sustainable transport, specifically the need to encourage walking, cycling, and the use of public transport, with road safety as a prerequisite and outcome of this shift.
Ms Linda Affotey-Annang, the Regional Head of the Authority, explained that the campaign targeted pupils and drivers because they were among the most vulnerable road users, with commercial drivers spending a significant amount of time on the road.
The goal was to empower children to raise awareness about road safety issues and instil road safety attitudes in pupils and drivers, promoting a change in mindset and adherence to road traffic regulations.
Globally, road traffic injuries are a leading cause of death and disability, with approximately 1.3 million people killed and up to 50 million injured each year.
Pedestrians and cyclists account for a significant proportion of these fatalities, with one in every four deaths occurring among them.
To address this issue, a Global Plan for a “Decade of Action” for Road Safety from 2021-2030 was developed, aiming to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by 50% by 2030.
Ms Affotey-Annang emphasized the importance of a comprehensive approach to road safety, including safe roads, vehicles, and behaviours, as well as improved emergency care.
Mr Emmanuel Mensah, the Programmes Manager for SHI, commended the NRSA for its efforts in reducing road crashes in the first quarter of the year.
He noted that the reduction in figures was a result of hard work by the NRSA and stakeholders, particularly through the Stay Alive campaigns, focusing on the Winneba-Makessim-Cape Coast highway.
Mr Thomas Aidoo, a resident, and other pedestrians interviewed expressed their support for sustained campaigns by the NRSA to reduce pedestrian knockdown incidents.
