The Dangers Traffic Jams Cause

In a split second a life could be lost on the road and the devastating effects it can have on loved ones is unimaginable, the unpreparedness of the victims and loved ones to deal with the aftermath of the accident becomes the least of their worries. If the victim is lucky he could get away with it by having some few cuts and bruises which might need just sutures, if the worst case scenario loved ones will have no other choice than to muscle the financial cost of having the victim go under surgery or perhaps  one would be confronted with the worst.

One way or the other, regardless of how much we would like as individuals to turn a blind eye to the likelihood of an accident occurring when we set out at the crack of dawn to our various workplaces and other engagements, we must also keep our eyes peeled for noticing all the signs which might cause accidents such as rusty parts on the vehicle, weak brakes, dilapidated car interior as well as the composure of the driver before he is seated behind the driving wheel, whether he is staggering or looks fatigued enough to be driving. 


Although one could never be too careful, it will always be prudent to be on the lookout for such indications. Consider the following scenario:

In a traffic jam, with all the frustration and heat to battle with, and all of a sudden your car gets shunted forward as a car goes straight into the back of your car and with anger u shout with exasperation  “that is if you are still alive” who the heck is that? Or if you’ve never being in that situation, here are some suggestions provided by DVLA as to how to manage the situation if you ever find yourself in such a predicament.

 The cause of the former incident which is obviously the fault of the driver behind must remain near the damaged car to ascertain if anyone other than themselves is injured be it a property, or an animal. The case must be reported to the police station for settlement. In the case where the driver refuses to give details of his/her identity and elopes, the cars identity should be noted and handed over to the police for trace. 

The alarming rate of accident which occurs in Ghana has been highly prioritized by the government and efforts are being made to curb if not totally eradicate this vermin eating into our economic fabric. According to a statistic report by the National Road Safety Commission [NRSC], between 2002 and 2008, 18,166 people were killed in road accident and of that figure 42% were pedestrians, 23% were passengers in buses, 12% were car occupants, while the remaining 23% consisted of motor riders and cyclists. 

This has also lead to the loss of 1.6% of Ghana’s gross domestic product [GDP].The rate of traffic accident is still on the increase.

Efforts are however being made to rectify this canker and also ratify the road system and as well sensitize drivers and road users alike to minimize the death tolls and varying accidents on the roads. Next time we step out of various homes to take the world on once again, we should pray and hope for an accident free day, please do not wait for it to happen to you or a closed relative before you take an action.  If you notice anything out of place the next time you board a vehicle, please do well to do the right thing.