Cape Coast, Oct. 18, GNA - A total of 23 people lost their lives, whiles 217 persons were injured in the third quarter of this year, in the Central Region.

The Commanding Officer of the Central Regional Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), DSP Paul Aduhene, who revealed this to the GNA on Monday, said a total of 255 accidents occurred during the period. Out of the figure, 171 involved commercial vehicles whiles 134 were private cars, with nine cases being motor bike crashes. DSP Aduhene said 20 of the cases recorded were fatal, 92 serious and 143 minor.

He further revealed that 55 pedestrians were knocked down during the period and urged drivers in the region to observe traffic regulations, to save lives and properties.

He expressed concern about the way most drivers flout traffic rules and regulations with impunity and advised them to desist from what he termed "skills display" because it could cause fatal accidents. DSP Aduhene regretted that drivers in the region refuse to cooperate with the police in their quest to curb preventable accidents, as they alert their over-speeding colleagues to slow down during routine checks, only to continue speeding afterwards.

He was also unhappy about how judges treat traffic offenders, which makes the work of the police very difficult.

The MTTU Commander, advised passengers to insist on their safety and also report careless drivers to the police, adding that, with the support of the public, the police could check preventable fatalities on the country's roads.