Sunyani, Jan.10,GNA - Two hundred and seventy one persons died in 652 motor accidents recorded last year in the Brong Ahafo Region, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Paul Wesley Baah, Regional Commander, Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), disclosed on Monday.

He said 759 people suffered various degrees of injury in the accidents, with 181 of them being fatal. One hundred and ninety-seven of the deceased were males and 74 females.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, The MTTU Regional Commander said 466 of the vehicles involved in the accidents were commercial while 246 were private. Ninety-four motor bikes were also involved.

ASP Baah stated that 77 persons were knocked down by vehicles and out of the deaths, 208 of them were aged above 18 and 63 were minors.

He advised drivers to be cautious and to obey road and traffic regulations to help minimize road accidents in the Region.

Overtaking and over speeding were the major causes of the accidents recorded, he stated and urged passengers to caution drivers from taking unnecessary risks or if possible to report them at the nearest Police Station.

“You should not allow drivers to joke with your lives but should protest when there is the need, since life is so precious and every death counts”, ASP Baah said.

The Regional MTTU commander expressed concern about the increasing number of accidents and mentioned that 593 accidents were recorded in 2010, with 141 deaths.

ASP Baah noted that accidents were caused by petty and preventable mistakes by drivers.