Eighty-Two people perished in 599 road crashes that occurred in the Ashanti Region within the first three months of this year, 2012.

Compared with the previous year’s 120 lives lost within the same period; the records showed a downward trend.

Chief Superintendent of Police Godact D. Hlordzi, Ashanti Regional Commander of Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Kumasi that, the reported cases of road accidents were however on the high side.

The Region had recorded a total of 551 accidents by the close of the month of March this year, as against 494 in 2011.

He put the number of pedestrians knocked down by vehicles this year at 126, up from the preceding year’s 94.

Chief Superintendent Hlordzi assured that the police would be resolute and act firmly to enforce road traffic regulations to ensure the safety of travelers.

He said during the period under review, the regional MTTU arrested 60 drivers for various traffic offences, adding that, 46 of the offending drivers had been put before court and sentenced to fines totaling GH¢14,996.00.

Only one of them was acquitted while the cases of five others were still under investigation and five others had been served with warning letters.

The Regional MTTU Commander said his unit had intensified routine road checks and safety education to restore discipline and sanity.**