Wa, March 23, GNA - Mr Alex Bedie, Upper West Regional Police Comman= der on Tuesday said, 23 people died from motorbike accidents in Wa last year,= an increase over that of 2008.

He said in 2008, 18 people got killed through motorbike accidents, while figures regarding injuries decreased in 2009, recording 16 cases as=

against 19 in 2008. He said motor bike accidents cases increased from 28 in 2008 to 30 i= n 2009. Mr Bedie made this known to newsmen during an end of year get-togeth= er, organised by the police at Wa.

Mr Bedie said the medical reports from the various hospitals and clinics indicated that the deaths were all attributed to head injuries. The Assistant Commissioner of Police said the worst social problem prevalent in the Upper West Region was the rampant breach of road traffic=

laws. He said most of the motorbikes were unregistered and the riders also= do not wear crash helmets. Mr Bedie said the unregistered motor bikes were also being used to r= ob people in the Municipality at night.

He said the police have put in place measures to curb robbery in the=

area. He said this has led to the arrest of three suspected criminals in t= he area, adding that, since their arrest there has been no reports of armed robbery for the past one and a half months. He advised all unregistered motor bike owners to register them and a= lso wear helmets to avoid being arrested by the police.