Road accidents claimed 144 lives in the Central Region alone from January to September this year. During the same period last year, 120 people died through motor accidents. The Central Regional Manager of the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC), Ms Catherine Hamilton, has described the situation as "worrying", saying the figure could even be more than that. "It is important that we do not only pray to get to our destinations, but there is the need to report any careless driver to the police," she stressed. Ms Hamilton made the startling revelations at a stakeholders' meeting in Cape Coast. She stated that a total of 632 road accidents were recorded in the region during the period compared to 540 during the same period last year. She stated that the 832 vehicles were involved in the accidents this year while the figure for last year was 732. In all, 630 people were injured in the accidents this year compared to 550 last year. Ms Hamilton said as a measure in reducing the accidents for the last quarter of the year, the NRSC in collaboration with some agencies had adopted strategies to intensify education to ensure that road users became more responsible for their safety. Ms Hamilton said the sharp rise in accidents was worrying, adding that the district assemblies were being encouraged to support the education in the districts. She added that the Regional House of Chiefs had been involved in the education of the communities while a vibrant task force would be placed at particular locations to check speeding and other road offences, warning that offenders would be brought to book. According to her, the Information Services Department would be involved in the education of the public while refresher courses would be organised for personnel of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) to equip them with modem techniques in road safety. Ms Hamilton added that road safety awareness day would be held at Gomoa Mampong in the region on October 26, this year on the theme: "Road safety, a Public responsibility". The Regional Commander of the MTTU, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Paul Aduhene noted with concern that motorists were refusing to observe traffic regulations. He, therefore, stressed the need that the educational campaign must be taken to their doorsteps to ensure its effectiveness. The Regional Fire Officer, Mr Alex Hughes, called for road humps to be erected around schools to reduce the speed of drivers around the educational institutions. He also called for routine maintenance on vehicles to ensure that they were road worthy at all times. Mr Hughes, however, expressed concern about the many rumble stripes on the Cape Coast-Accra highway, saying they weakened vehicles and also posed serious obstruction when injured people were being transported to the health facilities. During an open forum, the participants called on the police to withdraw all vehicles which were not roadworthy from the roads. Source: Daily Graphic/Ghana