Ing. David Sarfo Adonteng, the acting Director for the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has revealed that the issue of non-functioning traffic lights in Accra and some parts of Ghana is worrying .
A recent research by the NRSA showed that nearly half of traffic lights in the Greater Accra region are non-functional, with the Ashanti Region being the second on the list of regions with non-functioning traffic lights, followed by the Central and Western regions.
Speaking to host of Atinka FM’s Morning show “AM Drive” , Nana Fianko, the acting Director for the NRSA, Ing. David Sarfo said the issue increases the risk of road users, especially pedestrians, to road traffic accidents and other road injuries.
He opined that some of the busy intersections in the Greater Accra Region, drivers from different directions have to negotiate their way through; and in cases where the communication goes wrong it leads to an accident.
“It’s very worrying and a dangerous precedent that needs to be addressed. We are not responsible for traffic lights but due to the nature of our work we usually get to areas where these traffic lights are not functioning. We wouldn’t wish that happens but it has happened.”
“So, when you get to an intersection where the traffic lights are not working, that is when you have to be disciplined enough. Your safety should be paramount to you; your concentration should be on the road, tolerate other drivers. It will take discipline for us to manage the situation,” David Sarfo Adonteng told Nana Fianko.
Ing. David Sarfo Adonteng also revealed although the Department of Urban Roads, which had the management of the traffic lights under its domain has their internal challenges, the issue is of great concern to the NRSA and so they are in constant communication with the Department to resolve the alarming issue of traffic lights.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Vivian Adu
