Kumasi Mayor Launches Two Reports On Reducing Deaths On Kumasi Roads.

Kumasi Mayor, Hon Samuel Pyne launching the two reports aimed at reducing speeding and road crashes in the Metropolis.

The Mayor of Kumasi, Hon Samuel Pyne has launched two reports aimed at reducing speeding and deaths on notable roads in the Metropolis.

The two reports are namely, the Summary Status Report and the Speed Action Plan for Kumasi.

Speaking at the official launch at Lancaster Hotel on Tuesday, the Mayor said the two reports put forward recommendations to alleviate the rate of speeding outlined in the Summary Status Report.

“I am delighted to be launching these two reports with support from the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety, the Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit and in collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Building and Road Research Institute (CSIR-BRRI) as well as the World Resources Institute”, Hon Sam Pyne stated.

Statistics:
Data from the report indicates a 35% rate of speeding among all observed vehicles.

Speeding was highest amongst SUVs with 48% of them driving above posted speed limit.

39% of the observed motorcyclists were speeding with nearly 30% of observed motorcyclists speeding more than 15km/ h over the posted speed limits.

The report further outlines, that higher speeds lead to a greater risk of a crash and a higher probability of serious injury.

According to the report, a careful analysis of some of the corridors has led to the identification of some corridors for speed management prioritisation and they include; Western Bypass, PV Obeng Bypass, West End Hospital Bypass Road, Sunyani Road and the Mampong Road.

Bloomberg Philanthropies:
Speaking on behalf Bloomberg Philanthropies, Becky Bavinger, a Public Health Professional expressed gratitude to all stakeholders.

“I am very grateful to the city authorities and all other stakeholders who have seen to the sucess of this initiative and have also seen to the compilation of these informative reports”, She stated.

Ms Becky noted that the two reports must become very critical instruments in the hands of the professionals in the fight against speeding.

“I am very hopeful that it will be used to the maximum to help the city achieve the goal of halving road crash deaths by 2030”, she posited.

Story By Michael Ofosu-Afriyie, Kumasi.