Accra, April 24, GNA - Ghana has lost 602 lives through road accidents in the first quarter of the year, almost double the figure recorded within the same period last year.

The National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) said the first quarter of 2008 saw 339 deaths and over 60 per cent of the fatalities were caused by speeding.

Mr Rudolph Beckley, Manager of Research, Statistics and Information Technology of NRSC, said this in Accra on Friday at a day's workshop organised by the Ministry of Health for its drivers. He expressed the fear that should the trend continue, the situation could be pushing not only Ghana but the globe to meeting the lethal record that road fatalities would become the third cause of deaths by 2020.

Mr Beckley said the country continued to lose four lives daily, depriving the economy of 1.6 per cent of the Gross domestic Product which amounted to 165 million dollars annually.

Males also accounted for 70 per cent of crash victims, he said, since they were less careful on the road that than female drivers. Mr Beckley asked the public to clear the misconception that accidents were caused by spiritual forces and said 90 per cent of them were caused by human factors such as the disregard for road regulations.

He cautioned drivers and their mates against using driving as fun, saying "the speed that thrills is the speed that kills". He also advised passengers to demand driver discipline, since the paying of fares was a contract between them and the drivers to ensure that they were transported safely to their destinations. To reverse the trend, Mr Beckley said the NRSC was

introducing the log book, which drivers would be expected to log in

anytime they began a journey in order to reduce speeding. He also mentioned the installation of speed control gadgets in

vehicles and the establishment of the National Drivers Academy to ensure

regular training for drivers as some other measures. The NRSC, he said, had also developed a code to guide drivers

working for the Ministries, Department and Agencies and other public

institutions. He advised drivers: "Always put behind you the problems at

home when you begin to drive, ensure full control of your vehicles, effectively observe road regulations and take the safety of your passengers as your utmost responsibility." Speaking to drivers, Mr Robert Azumah, Acting Director of Administration of the Ministry, urged them to continue to work hard and to advise their peers to abide by road regulations. He acknowledged the role of the drivers in transporting medicine, equipment and responding to emergencies in the health sector and

pledged that they would be given the necessary support to enable

them to work effectively. Alhaji Saaka Damba, Transport Manager of the Ministry,

encouraged the drivers to upgrade their skills.