Kasoa(C/R), July 24, GNA - Road accidents on the main Mankessimm-Winneba Junction-Accra road and around Kasoa increased from 56 between January to June last year to 159 within the same period this year.

Seventeen 17 people died and 55 received injuries in 2005 while 19 people died and 146 received injuries this year.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Michael Roland Nyaaba, Kasoa District Police commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview at Kasoa on Monday.

He said 48 fatal accidents were recorded in 2005 and 68 fatal accidents had been recorded so far this year. ASP Nyaaba attributed causes of the accidents to over speeding, overloading and careless driving by most drivers He expressed concern about the increasing road accidents within the area despite intensive road safety education and improvement on the road.

ASP Nyaaba said to reduce road accidents within the area, the Police Administration had provided equipment to detect over speeding on the road.

He said 132 drivers had so far been arrested for various traffic offences and prosecuted.

However, ASDP Nyaaba appealed for a review on the fines imposed on offending drivers to serve as a deterrent to reduce road accidents.