Director General of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Ing. David Osafo Adonteng, has admonished political parties to incorporate road safety interventions into their manifestos and policy statements to address the increase in road fatalities during election years.

He noted that the NRSA will be collaborating with the political parties to ensure an accident-free electioneering period this year.

Speaking on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, he argued that political parties play a crucial role in shaping road safety policies and promoting public awareness campaigns.

To help achieve this, he said the NRSA is implementing the Road Safety Political Parties Code, which outlines effective strategies and best practices for integrating road safety into party platforms and future legislation.

The initiative aims to facilitate dialogue with political parties and road safety stakeholders, ensuring road safety remains a top priority during the political season.

He indicated that the parties ought to use their platforms in educating their members on the need to maintain discipline on our roads.

According to him, the platforms of the parties can significantly define the standards and measures that will safeguard our roads and reduce traffic-related accidents.

“The political parties and leaders have endorsed the initiative. We are running media campaigns on radio and television. We also join them at their rallies and use their own leaders to educate them on road safety. This is to ensure the safe conduct of election-related activities involving the use of roads.”

The Director General further revealed the NRSA has also met Okada riders and educated them in the need to maintain discipline on our roads.

He lamented that the riders don’t usually maintain discipline during campaigning activities.

“We have also met with motor riders and encouraged them to be disciplined on our roads. They engage in dangerous activities during the campaign periods, including reckless riding and overloading, and we have underscored the need for them to desist from such activities. We also stressed the point that election-related accidents were preventable, and so the parties and all stakeholders have to support the initiative.”