The Influence of Road Infrastructure on Road Traffic Accidents in Ghana. A Case Study of the Ashanti Region of Ghana

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DOI: 10.21522/TIJPH.2013.SE.19.02.Art017

Authors : Gabriel Opoku, Gabriel Opoku

Abstract:

Road safety has become a global issue of concern and concrete effort needs to be adopted at the ground level to abate the thousands of lives being lost in road traffic accidents around the world. One of the important and cogent measures for subsidising road crashes fatalities is continuously improving and maintaining good shapes and conditions of our roads. The design of roads plays paramount role in terms of road safety.

This study provides strategies and measures that are concrete to tail off the problem through multifaceted methods which involve effective road engineering solutions at the design stage.

The purpose of the study was to assess road infrastructure situation in Ghana and provide effective measures to recede the problem.

The study seeks to measure how roads are maintained with frequent relaying of road surfaces and markings of road safety signs and also to assess the condition of pedestrian’s footpaths and pedestrians crossing at intersection and measure availability of road signs and signals, pavement, and road lanes.

Cross sectional study design was used to collect data. Ashanti region of Ghana was used as a case study. Open and close ended questions and also focus group discussions were used to collect data from the respondents. The study participants were made up of road users (motor vehicle users and pedestrians), and stakeholders within road infrastructure management. The study participants were 217. The study found that, road infrastructure in the region is strongly associated with road traffic accidents in the region.

Keywords: Road Conditions, Road Traffic Accident, Road Traffic Safety, Pavement.

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