Sunyani, July 16, GNA - Police Inspector Kaakyire Anane, Station Officer of the Sunyani Municipal Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), has stated that drunkenness, carelessness and riding bicycles without reflectors in the night as the major causes of road accidents in the municipality.

He said these resulted in the sharp increase in accidents during the second quarter of this year as compared to last year. Inspector Anane who was talking to the GNA indicated that lack of experience and riding without crash helmet also contributed to the high rate of accidents, adding that, the practice resulted in the death of eight cyclists and three motor riders recently.

The station officer said the second quarter of the year recorded 108 accidents with 24 fatal ones recording 30 deaths and 147 victims suffering minor injuries as compared to 48 cases with eight deaths, 13 serious and 27 minor injuries last year.

He said more than 309 million cedis in fines was recorded by the Unit from January to June this year.

Inspector Anane said the offences included over speeding that fetched the highest figure of 157 million cedis, 97 million cedis for failing to stop and 18 million cedis for overloading. Other offences included driving without licence, failure to renew insurance and income tax and road worthy certificates. Inspector Anane appealed to drivers to have patience with cyclists and motor riders since they were all road users and advised cyclists to avoid the practice of riding in the middle of the road instead of the portion allocated to them.

He urged motor riders to wear crash helmets whenever they were on the road.