Ho, Jan. 15, GNA-Road accidents in the Volta Region have dropped from 577 in 2007 to 355 in 2008.

The 355 accidents involved 440 vehicles claiming 64 deaths, 127 serious injuries and 133 minor injuries.

Police Chief Inspector, John Kpano Station Officer of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service Ho, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that the reduction in road accidents in the region was achieved through road safety education by the Regional Road Safety Commission.

Mr. Kpano however, said another road safety problem that needed tackling was the construction of "trenches" in the middle of highways by communities to reduce the incidence of pedestrians getting killed by speeding vehicles.

The Ghana News Agency counted about 15 unauthorized "trenches" between Asikuma to Juapong in addition to speed rumps constructed by the Ghana Highways Authority.

These "trenches" do not have any road signs to warn drivers and riders who have to brake all of sudden on approaching them causing passengers to jerk forward crashing into each other apart from increasing the risk of accidents. Such trenches are also causing damage to newly constructed roads in parts of the region.

The trenches, including GHA speed rumps have increased travel time from Ho to Accra for business travellers apart from making such journeys uncomfortable and tiring.