In the wake of rising road crashes across the country, the Asutifi North District Fire Officer, DOII Emmanuel Quansah, is urging all drivers and road users to strictly obey traffic rules to prevent avoidable deaths and injuries.

With the rainy season in full swing and traffic volumes increasing, safety on the roads has become a growing concern in the Asutifi North District, and DOII Emmanuel Quansah said many road accidents are preventable if road users act responsibly.

“Most of the accidents we attend to are due to overspeeding, wrongful overtaking, and lack of attention to road signs. I want to appeal to drivers, especially commercial drivers, to value lives. One mistake can cost several lives,” he stated.

The Fire Officer indicated these on Friday at Kenyasi in the Ahafo region in an interview with JoyNews on the increasing incidents of road crashes in the enclave.

An accident involving a tipper truck and a Toyota Yaris had happened on Ntotroso-Kenyasi road in the area, claiming 2, with three others admitted at Banhart and Kenyasi District hospitals, respectively.

Two out of five in the taxi (Toyota Yaris with a registration number BA-876-21) were confirmed dead on the spot.

The taxi collided with a tipper truck with a registration number, GR-7768-25.

DO11 Emmanuel Quansah further emphasised the need for passengers and pedestrians to be alert and play their part in ensuring safety on the roads.

“Passengers should speak up when drivers are misbehaving. We all have a role to play. Let’s avoid unnecessary speeding, follow traffic signals, and ensure our vehicles are in good condition," he noted.

According to him, the Fire Service in Asutifi North will continue with its public education campaigns and collaborate with the police, transport unions, media and other stakeholders to reduce road crashes.

DO11 Emmanuel Quansah emphasised that this is an important reminder for all of us that safety begins with the individual and that there is a need to adhere to road safety regulations, saying, "Let’s all play our part and stay alive."