Research conducted by the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has shown that 48% of all traffic lights in the Greater Accra Region do not function properly.
The authority in a statement released on Friday, 17 December disclosed that a total of 75 traffic lights have been identified to be non-functional across the country.
Out of the 75, Greater Accra records 48%, in the Ashanti Region, 19% of traffic lights are not functioning, with the Central and Western Regions following with 9% and 7% respectively.
Areas noted for non-functioning traffic lights in the region include the Okponglo Junction, Shiashie, Airport First and Second, Awoshie, Ashaley Botwe, Shangrila, Kaneshie first light, Mataheko, Odorkor-Hansonic Junction, Kasoa-Tetegu junction.
The authority described the situation as worrying given that it increases the vulnerability of road users, especially pedestrians.
According to the NRSA, the presence of these non-functional traffic lights is a threat to road safety and potentially increases the risk of road crashes in the country.
It said the government’s failure to fix these faulty and non-functional streetlights and traffic signals undermined the intent for their installation.
“The continuous disregard of duty-bearers to these faulty and non-functional streetlights and traffic signals undermines the intent for their installation, which includes the desire to influence an efficient movement of vehicles and pedestrians to minimise the potential conflicts and possible crashes,” it said.
The authority thus asked the Department of Urban Roads, relevant assemblies, and the Ministry of Energy to take steps to ensure the functionality of streetlights and traffic signals.
With the festive season fast approaching, the NRSA urged road users to be cautious when approaching intersections without traffic signals.
Below is the statement