Transport Ministry, NRSA launches 2022 Christmas and New Year Road Safety Campaign

The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport have launched the 2022 Christmas and New Year Campaign with the call on road users particularly drivers to continue to be disciplined on the roads before and after the festive season.

Speaking at the launch under the theme, “Stay Disciplined and Be Responsible To Sustain the Gains” – Stay Alive! in Accra, the Minister of Transport, Mr. Kweku Ofori Asiamah urged transport operators and unions in the road value chain to demonstrate commitment to save lives by implementing the basic operational standards on road safety.

“As part of the effort to sustain the gains on the country’s roads, the Transport Ministry have engaged the NRSA to step up their duties at the major vehicle terminals and communities as well as the various churches, mosques and media houses to educate road safety programmes” he said.

He however urged road users to demonstrate safety consciousness and comply with all traffic rules and regulations and again called on all stakeholders to guard against reckless driving adding that strict compliance of the rules on the road guarantees safety.

He said festive seasons are characterised with increase in road traffic fatalities and injuries due to reckless driving and was quick to add that some drivers speed excessively, fatigue driving or driving under the influence of alcohol.

“To achieve the 2nd UN Decade of Action target of 50% reduction in traffic fatalities, road users must change their behaviours and attitude”, he said and challenge law enforcers to effectively and efficiently perform their duty without fear or favour and said provisional statistics on crashes, injuries and deaths reported from January to November this year have reduced by 7.19%, 1.07% and 18.20% respectively.

“There is a responsibility for all stakeholders to be committed to ensure an accident free Christmas”, he said, adding that festive seasons comes along with high traffic thus drivers and pedestrians must exhibit a high level of vigilance.

The Ag. Director-General of NRSA, Ing. David Osafo Adonteng thanked the media for the immense reportage on road safety saying the media is a partner and still plays a significant role in road safety.

“The launch is an annual programme prior to Christmas and New Year which challenges the NRSA to go to the battle field to curb road crashes along with all players in the road sector” he added.

Present were MTTD, DVLA, Cuts International, Street Sense Organisation, GRTCC and GPRTU.