Winneba, Nov 16, GNA - The number of vehicles involved in accidents in the Effutu Municipality increased from 98 in 67 accidents in 2007 to 113 vehicles in 84 accidents in 2008.

The number of accident deaths reduced from 53 in 2007 to 17 in 2008, the Effutu Municipal Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), Assistant Superintendent of Police Emmanuel Nana Ofori told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Winneba on Friday. He said in 2007, 224 passengers were injured with 148 people sustaining injuries in 2008 and most of the accidents occurred on the Winneba Junction/Kasoa/Accra road.

Nana Ofori attributed the accidents to over speeding, wrong overtaking, fatigue on the part of drivers plying long distances and the lukewarm attitude of most pedestrians crossing the roads. He said broken down vehicles left in the middle of roads were also a contributing factor to road accidents and urged drivers of such vehicles to park well to prevent accidents.

Nana Ofori said his outfit in collaboration with the drivers' unions had decided to undertake an exercise to educate drivers on the need to reduce accidents on the road.