The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), in collaboration with the Accra and Kumasi Metropolitan Assemblies (AMA/KMA), has launched the “Know and Follow the Speed Limits” campaign to promote safe driving practices ahead of the election and Christmas periods.

The initiative, supported by the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS) and Vital Strategies, aims to reduce road crashes by encouraging compliance with speed limits.

The campaign, unveiled on December 2, 2024, seeks to address the surge in road crashes during peak travel periods.

It emphasizes the critical role of speed management in reducing accidents and their severity.

According to police statistics, Ghana recorded 2,038 road crash fatalities as of October 2024, underscoring the urgency of the campaign.

The Director of Planning and Programmes at NRSA, Mr. Martin Afram, highlighted the importance of adhering to speed limits.

“Speed limits are in place to ensure the safety of all road users.

Driving above these limits significantly reduces survival chances in a crash.

We believe this campaign, combined with rigorous enforcement, will help change road safety outcomes,” he said.

The Police Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) has committed to intensifying speed enforcement operations nationwide.

During the launch, Chief Superintendent Alexander Obeng, Director for Education, Research, and Training at the Police MTTD, stressed the department’s readiness to penalize drivers who engage in speeding or risky behaviours.

“The police will spare no effort to crack down on reckless driving during this peak season to safeguard lives. We commend the NRSA and BIGRS for championing this cause,” Chief Superintendent Obeng noted.

The campaign will feature television, radio, and billboard advertisements in Accra and Kumasi for six weeks, alongside targeted messaging on long-distance buses and social media platforms.

These messages will be supported by enhanced police monitoring to ensure compliance.

Statistics from the Johns Hopkins International Injury and Research Unit reveal that speeding remains prevalent on Ghanaian roads, with 92% of drivers in Accra and 89% in Kumasi exceeding speed limits on local and collector roads.

Past campaigns by NRSA have demonstrated significant behavioural changes, with 95% of respondents reporting that such initiatives made them more likely to avoid speeding.

Asmeret Nigus, Vital Strategies Technical Advisor for Africa, lauded the campaign, emphasizing the need for a systemic shift in road safety.

“Speeding is a leading cause of preventable road deaths worldwide.

This campaign, backed by traffic enforcement, prioritizes those most at risk and aims to save lives,” she stated.

The NRSA expressed optimism that the campaign will create widespread awareness and drive meaningful change.

The Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety continues to support efforts to reduce road fatalities through local and national collaborations.