Reports of accidents on overpasses have been rampant and disturbing recently. Many lives and properties are being put at risk, and there seems to be a lot that the government and road safety agencies need to do about it. These unfortunate events constantly raise concerns about the safety of interchanges and flyovers in Ghana.
The most recent incident happened on Sunday, May 18, when a woman and her child were involved in an awful car accident at the Pokuase Interchange. Reports are that the woman lost control of the car while driving on the upper level, and it crashed through the edge barrier, causing the car to land on the lower road. Passersby quickly rush to the scene to rescue the injured woman from the damaged car. The actual cause of the accident is still not known as well as the state of the child.
A similar incident occurred on January 25 this year, when a truck fell off the Achimota overhead. The incident, which occurred around 6 pm, caused significant traffic congestion on the Achimota-Tesano road. Thankfully, there were no reported fatalities, injuries, or damage to other cars. The truck’s driver, the only person inside, was unharmed. According to eyewitnesses, the driver swerved to avoid colliding with another car, which then escaped the area. The truck overturned and blocked the road as a result of this maneuver.
Fortunately, most of these incidents caused no harm to pedestrians or drivers in the lower lane. However, major traffic was caused, causing frustration and tension among commuters.
Recommendations
These accidents have raised concerns about safety on interchanges and flyovers. Most of the overpasses have very short side barriers that make it very easy for cars to fly over. The government can provide higher and better barriers to shield vehicles from falling in drivers accidentally drive off. Guardrails that absorb energy can be installed to lessen the effect of collisions and stop cars from swerving off the road. Additionally, reflective signage, warning indicators, and clear lane lines can all assist drivers in staying vigilant and driving safely.
