The Motor Traffic and Transport Unit of (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service, on Tuesday said 565 people died in road crashes nationwide at end of the first quarter of this year.

This was against 540 deaths recorded within the same period last year.

This included 126 women, out of which 37 were below 18 years and 439 men with 61 of them being minors.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Alexander Kweku Obeng told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra.

He said 3,591 road crashes were reported by the end of March, as against 2,989 reported cases at the same period in 2011, and the number of injured people increased from 3,166 last year to 3,464 this year.

ASP Obeng said, Greater Accra Region recorded the highest cases of 1,582 crashes with 77 fatalities and 600 injured persons, followed by Ashanti Region with 551 reported cases out of which 68 were fatal with 599 injuries.

Eastern Region recorded 349 crashes, Central Regions 326 crashes, Western Region 265 cases, Volta Region 234 crashes and Brong Ahafo Region 158 crashes.

Northern Region recorded 42 crashes, Upper West Region 44 crashes and Upper East Region 40 crashes.

ASP Obeng said 5,188 vehicles comprising 2,588 commercial vehicles, 2,061 private vehicles and 539 motorcycles were involved in the crashes within the period as against 4, 269 vehicles within the same period last year.

He assured the public of the continuous commitment of the MTTU and other stakeholders in their efforts to make sure that road crashes and its associated fatalities are reduced through intensive campaigns nationwide.

ASP Obeng reiterated the importance of operating within the stipulated traffic laws, such as the use of seat belts, avoiding excessive speed, driving under the influence of alcohol and the use of mobile phones.

The United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed 2011-2020 as Decade of Action for Road Safety, to stabilize and reduce the forecast level of road traffic fatalities around the world by increasing activities conducted at the national, regional and global levels.**