Sunyani (B/A), July 7, GNA - A total of 133 cases of road accidents were recorded in Brong-Ahafo from January to March this year, Mr Daniel Wuaku, Regional Manager of the National Road Safety Commission, has disclosed.

He said 146 vehicles were involved in the accidents, which recorded 38 deaths with 146 victims sustaining various degrees of injuries.

Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani recently, Mr Wuaku said the region last year recorded a reduction in road accidents, which he attributed to the intensive public education embarked upon by the Commission and its major stakeholders.

The Regional Manager observed that human error was a major contributory factor for road accidents and advised drivers to be law-abiding and to adhere to road safety regulations.

Mr Wuaku stated the United Nations (UN) recently declared a global decade of action for road safety (2011-2020) aimed at drawing world attention to the effects of road accidents.

Mr Wuaku said to achieve the objective the Commission launched Vehicle Conspicuity Project, which included the fitting of rectro-reflective tapes at the rear and sides of vehicles to improve visibility at night and during bad weather.

"The tapes are specifically designed for broken down and slow moving vehicles", he added.

Besides this the Commission had also introduced pre-departure checks on commercial vehicles at lorry stations, which would involve the use of an Alco-meter machine to determine whether a driver was under the influence of alcohol before embarking on a journey, Mr Wuaku said.

"The machine is also used to check vehicle tyres, head and back lights as well as windscreens whether they are fit for journey" he added.

Mr. Wuaku said the regional office of the Commission in collaboration with the police were undertaking the exercise and warned that drivers, who would flouted the law, would not be spared.

He said the Commission had also launched the National Road Safety Strategy III, a blue print for Ghana to follow to also help to achieve the objective of the global action.

Mr Wuaku explained that with the new strategy all major stakeholders such as the Police and transport unions were supposed to play their respective roles in road safety education with total commitment.

Mr Joseph Donkor, Regional Coordinator of the St. John Ambulance said it was important for the general public to have at least a little knowledge about the application of first aid stating that majority of accidents victims died through cardiac arrest (stopping of the heart).

Mr Donkor explained that any accident victim, who had cardiac arrest, had only four minutes to survive but first aid could change the situation when applied immediately.

He indicated that apart from cardiac arrest one of the problems, which caused death to accident victims, was the correct method of lifting them.

Mr Donkor said the training for the application of first aid was free of charge and advised churches, Non Governmental Organisations, drivers and individuals to learn first aids to be able to save lives.