Kumasi, Dec. 19, GNA - Mr Ofosu Mensah Gyeabour, Ashanti Regional Police Commander, on Thursday expressed regret at the increasing number of motor accidents in the region despite the numerous education campaigns being undertaken by the Regional Road Safety Committee. He said at the end of the third quarter of the year, 305 people died while 1,359 persons sustained various degrees of injures as a result of road accidents.

These were contained in speech read on his behalf at the launch of the Ashanti Regional Christmas and New Year Road Safety Campaign in Kumasi.

Mr Gyeabour said though the Committee was working assiduously to reduce the spate of accidents, drunk driving, over speeding, over loading, unnecessary overtaking, reckless driving and driving by unqualified drivers continued to cause fatalities on the roads. He said, consequently, the education campaign would be intensified to ensure a reduction in road accidents.

The Regional Police Commander appealed to the public to cooperate with the police in measures to make the roads safe for travellers. Mr Gyeabour cautioned drivers against over speeding during festivities to maximise profits, which according to him greatly accounted for accidents.

Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister, who launched the campaign, called on security agencies to step up their efforts to bring sanity on the roads.

In a speech read on his behalf, the minister expressed regret that the country continued to lose both human and material resources as a result of motor accidents and advised drivers to drive carefully and to respect traffic regulations to avoid accidents.

Mr Boafo said: "It is an undeniable fact that some of our roads are not in good shape but the attitude of drivers and other road users has been a source of worry to government and the citizens at large. The crux of the matter is that indiscipline has bedevilled our society of which road users are the worst offenders.''