The Ashaiman Division of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service has recorded a total of 197 accidents in the first quarter of this year.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Abraham Amedzro, Ashaiman Divisional MTTU Commander, who made this known on Tuesday, said the accidents occurred between the Abattoir area of the Tema motorway and Afienya.

DSP Amedzro gave the accident figures at the Ashaiman main lorry station, during a day’s educational programme on the prevention of accidents and the application of first aid for drivers.

He said 11 of the total accidents occurred between Monday, March 26 and Monday, April 2, this year.

He advised drivers to read and observe the rules and regulations in the Ghana Highway Code, to enable them to reduce the rate of accidents in the area.

Chief Superintendent Eklu, Ashaiman Divisional Commander, said the programme formed part of the national strategy to reduce accidents, minimize injury, and ensure the safety of all road users.

C/Supt Eklu said it was important to embark on such educational programmes to help prevent some of the accidents, since research has revealed that a lot of drivers do not know how to prevent some minor accidents.

Chief Inspector Adu Asamoah, Station Officer at the Ashaiman MTTU Office, reminded drivers to check the conditions of their vehicles every morning before driving.

Chief Inspector Asamoah added that as part of the daily checks, drivers must ensure that the tires of their vehicles were well positioned, with the correct number of wheel knots, adding that, the mirrors of the vehicles, brake lights and traffic indicators, as well as speedometers, must be functioning well before the vehicle is moved.

He cautioned drivers under the age of 25 years and inexperienced drivers against driving commercial vehicles, since that was an offence.

Mr Francis Obeng, Disaster Manager of the Ghana Red Cross Society, said first aid was very important in preventing deaths and further injuries to victims of accidents.

Mr Obeng indicated that about 20 percent of accident victims lose their lives in the first 10 minutes of the occurrence of an accident due to improper first aid given them by passengers and drivers.

Mr. Obempong Achiampong, National First Aid Instructor of the Red Cross, advised drivers to purchase their first aid kits from his outfit, as most of the kits on the market do not contain the required materials.

Mr. Achiampong mentioned that a first aid kit must contain a scissors, soap, triangular bandage, antiseptic, cotton, blade, and plaster, adding that, it should not contain any medicine.

The Red Cross Team demonstrated to the drivers how to rescue a person from an accident vehicle without fracturing his bones.**