The Director-General of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Abraham Amaliba, has emphasized the urgent need to protect pedestrians and cyclists during this year’s Global Road Safety Week. Speaking on the Day Break Upper East Show on A1 Radio, Amaliba highlighted the global theme for the week, which focuses on “safe walking, safe riding.”
Amaliba explained that the theme of this year’s Road Safety Week is particularly relevant due to the alarming statistics that show pedestrians as the most vulnerable road users. “Most of the victims who are caught up in road crashes are pedestrians,” he noted, underscoring the need for heightened attention on pedestrian and cyclist safety.
One key issue that the NRSA Director-General pointed out is the lack of adequate road infrastructure to protect pedestrians. Many roads, particularly in rural and urban areas, do not have designated pavements, forcing pedestrians to walk alongside vehicles, often competing for space on the same road. This, Amaliba argued, is a major factor contributing to road accidents.
“Roads without pavements mean pedestrians are forced to walk on the road, which increases the risk of accidents. There is an urgent need for governments to invest in infrastructure that separates pedestrians and cyclists from motor vehicles,” Amaliba said. He also emphasized the importance of creating separate cycling lanes to reduce the risk of collisions between cyclists and drivers.
Amaliba highlighted that in some countries, cycling infrastructure is built distinctly apart from vehicle lanes, a practice that he believes Ghana and other nations should adopt. “Where cyclists and vehicles share the same road, it often leads to accidents. We need to start thinking about roads that allow safe passage for both pedestrians and cyclists,” he said.
The NRSA Director-General urged government authorities to incorporate these safety considerations into road planning and construction, ensuring that future roads are designed to accommodate pedestrians and cyclists, not just vehicles.
Source: A1RadioOnline.com|101.1 MHz|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Bolgatanga