The upward
spiral in the number of road accidents in the country is a grave cause for
alarm.
Earlier in April, we reported a road accident which claimed the lives of four people along the Senegambia Highway. Now, as reported in our today’s paper, another road accident in Tanene village in the Kombo East district of the West Coast Region on Saturday, has claimed the lives of five people.
Hardly a week passes now, without hearing of at least two or three serious road accidents.
Almost everyone has been affected by such accidents, at one time or the other, because a relative or friend is somehow connected to such accidents.
While there was a reduction in the number of road accidents sometime ago, recent developments indicate that there is a large increase in the number of such accidents.
Everyone in this country would quite agree that the number of motor vehicles is increasing day by day.
Though this is a sign of the improving economy of the country, it is a bitter truth that this also adds to accidents on our roads, and we think something should be done about it.
It is clear that unless urgent remedial measures are taken, the occurrence of these accidents and resulting casualties will go on rising.
Among the factors usually listed for accidents are bad roads, over-speeding, old vehicles and a poor driving culture that grew over the years.
We also believe that roads, whether good or bad, are a factor in accidents.
Many of our roads bear no traffic signs to warn users of dangers.
Lack of attitudinal change has also been attributed to as another cause of the road traffic accidents.
Many inexperienced drivers don’t correct their ways until they run afoul of the law.
Also, the fact that an increasing number of young men and women are at the wheel also results in perpetuating this state of affairs.
Greater public education is needed.
But the immediate answer is zero tolerance.
“Safety First” is “Safety Always.”
CharlesM. Hayes
