The Acting Director General of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), David Osafo Adonteng, has revealed that human behaviour is responsible for over 90% of road crashes in Ghana.

During an interview on Joy News’ PM Express on October 14, he stated that while factors such as road and vehicle conditions contribute to accidents, it is reckless actions by drivers that are the leading cause of fatal road incidents.

“We have all said that you take the road factor out, and take the vehicle factor out, but the most prevalent cause of crashes is human behaviour,” Mr Adonteng explained.

He elaborated that the interaction between the road, vehicle, and human element plays a crucial role in road safety, but when drivers ignore basic safety rules, the consequences are often fatal.

“More than 90% of crash occurrences are attributed to human behaviour.”

Among the dangerous behaviours, Mr Adonteng pointed to speeding as the most critical issue.

“The enemy of road crashes in Ghana is speeding—what we call over-speeding. I think that by and large, anytime you hit the road, you will find people driving as if they are using aircraft,” he stated.

He warned drivers that the laws are clear about speed limits, with 100 kilometres per hour as the maximum speed on highways like the Accra-Tema Motorway, and much lower limits in settlements and school zones.

For Mr Adonteng, there is no excuse for such reckless driving, especially as road signs and highway codes are widely available, and most drivers have been educated on these rules.

“People are aware. They’ve gone through driving schools. The National Road Safety Authority engages drivers almost daily. It is not like they don’t know, but the most critical problem we have is irresponsibility.”

The NSRA boss did not mince words when discussing the root cause of the problem.

“It is irresponsibility,” he said, noting that despite efforts to raise awareness and educate the public, many drivers choose to flout the rules.

He expressed frustration over the seemingly normalized disregard for road safety laws, which he believes is the reason for the continuous rise in road accidents.

He added a note of caution to drivers who believe they can escape the consequences of their reckless behaviour, humorously urging them, “If you want to fly, you turn your car into an aircraft, go to the Civil Aviation Authority and register and fly, but not on the road. It is not acceptable.”