Road Safety Review: Ghana Know Before You Go Driving Is on the Right
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Association for Safe International Road Travel Road Safety Review: Ghana Know Before You Go Driving is on the right. Drivers are required to carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) or a Ghanian driving license; along with a passport or visa. An IDP must be obtained prior to arrival in Ghana. Keep passport and visa with you at all times; document theft from hotels is common. Pedestrians account for 46 percent of all road traffic fatalities. Riders of two- and three-wheeled motorized vehicles make up 18 percent of road crash deaths. Blood alcohol limit is below 0.08 g/dl for all drivers. Enforcement of drink driving laws is low. There are 24.9 road deaths per 100,000 people in Ghana, compared to 2.8 in Sweden and 3.1 in the UK. Driving Culture • Compliance with traffic rules and laws is low. • Aggressive driving and dangerous overtaking are typical. • Speed limit laws are poorly enforced. • Drivers may swerve suddenly into oncoming traffic to avoid potholes. Source: CIA Factbook • Drivers often speed and behave recklessly, including drivers of public transport. • Trotro minibus and minivan drivers are often untrained; reckless behavior among drivers is common. Trotro drivers commonly pull into traffic without signaling. • Pedestrians often walk along road edges or in road lanes, even in the dark. • There are many loose animals on roadways, particularly at dusk, dawn and during the night. • Drivers may place piles of leaves and/or grass in roadways to alert other motorists of a crash or hazard ahead. • Poorly maintained vehicles are common. Many vehicles lack standard safety features including seat belts, working brakes, adequate tires, headlights, tail lights, turn signals and windscreen wipers. • Many vehicles are severely overloaded, posing safety threats to other road users. Road Conditions • There are a total of 109,515 km (68,049 miles) of speeding drivers and vehicles with inadequate brakes. roads in Ghana; 13,787 km (8,566 miles) are paved, • Street vendors are common in cities, towns and and 95,728 km (59,482 miles) are unpaved. villages. Vendors may step into streets or walk in • Most roads designated as “N” roads (National roadways; vendors may approach motorists at Highway) are toll roads that connect major towns and intersections or in slow-moving traffic. Be alert to cities. Cash fees are paid at toll booths. persons on foot. • Main roads are generally paved and well maintained. • There are many motorbikes and motorcycles weaving • Beyond major urban centers, secondary roads are in and out of traffic. typically unpaved and in poor condition. A four-wheel • Bicycle travel is common, particularly in the north of drive vehicle may be required. the country. There are few bicycle paths. • Outside of cities, roads may have large potholes. • Public demonstrationsand protests are typical in • Driving after dark is regarded as hazardous. Streets are response to political or economic events, and on poorly lit or unlit; there are many pedestrians, animals holidays with political significance. and bicyclists on and along roads and streets. • Avoid public demonstrations. Even peaceful • Pedestrian infrastructure is underdeveloped or demonstrations may become violent. nonexistent. • Civil unrest results in curfews being imposed with little • Pedestrians are at high risk from a lack of sidewalks, notice. ©ASIRT 2021 1 Association for Safe International Road Travel Road Safety Review: Ghana Road Conditions, continued • Vehicles stopped at intersections or idling in traffic may be targeted by thieves carrying out “snatch and grab” crimes. Keep windows up and doors locked when stopped in traffic. • The following roads may present particular challenges to motorists: » The N1 highway connecting Accra to Cape Coast and the main road leading away from Kotoka International Airport are frequent locations of fatal crashes. » Motorways connecting Bole-to-Wa and Kintampo-to-Tamaleare subject to highway robberies. Highway attacks and robberies are also common on minor roads in parts of the Upper West, Upper East, Northern, Eastern, Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regions. Drive with windows up and doors locked. » All roads in all border areas adjacent to Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo and Benin should be avoided. » The George Bush motorway in the Greater Accra regions and the Tema motorway have several hundred fatal crashes each year. Poor traffic law enforcement and driver disregard for speed limits and traffic rules are causes. » The Accra to Kumasi Highway and the Accra Aflao to Togo border road are regarded as highly dangerous, with high numbers of fatal crashes. Speeding and reckless driver behavior contribute to road deaths. Regional and Seasonal Conditions • Ghana is subject to flooding, windstorms and periodic earthquakes and tremors. • Flooding is common in the Upper West, North East, Northern and Savannah regions during the rainy season from March to November. • During flooding, standing water may obscure deep potholes and other road dangers. Do not drive into water blocking roadways, or leave vehicle to step into standing water. Strong currents may be present. • During and after heavy rains, roads may become impassable and bridges may wash out. Overland travel and the provision of essential and emergency services may be compromised. • Sand and dust storms called “Harmattan” blowing in from the Sahara from December to March may disrupt travel and create hazardous driving conditions. Sand on paved surfaces may cause skidding; heavy dust and sand may obscure driver’s vision. • Be familiar with emergency procedures. The Red Cross provides a website and free, downloadable emergency app: http://www.redcross.org/get-help/prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies Transportation • Transport options include cars, taxis, shared taxis, “hurry cars,” buses, “trotro” minibuses and minivans, pragya Maximum Speed Limits tricycle taxis, “okada” motorbikes, ride-sharing services, trains and ferries. Type of road Maximum speed 50 kph • Private car hire is available through car rental agencies. Urban areas (30 mph) Confirm that driver is licensed and that vehicle is in good 90 kph Rural roads repair with standard safety features. (55 mph) • Public transportation is unregulated and generally 100 kph Highways regarded as unsafe. (60 mph) • Taxi safety standards for all types of taxis are often poor. Always adjust speed according to signage, hazards and weather conditions. Signs are generally pictorial and may not follow European Union conventions. Pedestrians No Dual End No stopping Pedestrians No through Go straight No only overtaking carriageway of motorway allowed prohibited road or turn right entry ahead ©ASIRT 2021 2 Association for Safe International Road Travel Road Safety Review: Ghana Transportation, continued • If using a trusted ride-sharing service, confirm driver’s • Use only licensed, officially marked taxis; check driver identity before entering vehicle. Drivers may only identification before entering taxi and determine that accept cash payment. vehicle is in safe condition prior to travel. • Passenger rail service is operated by Ghana Railway • Official taxis have orange markings on the corners of Corporation. Routes are limited; a major railway vehicles. development project has temporarily discontinued • Avoid hailing taxis on the street. many routes. • Do not enter taxis already occupied by other • Trains link Accra to Tema and some smaller towns and passengers or utilize shared taxis; insist that driver not villages. accept other fares. • Boat travel carries the risk of attacks by pirates with • Do not take taxis at night. automatic weapons for the purposes of kidnapping, • “Hurry cars” are private vehicles found at transport ransom and robbery of crews and passengers. stations; drivers provide direct service to specified • Ferry services provide routes crossing Volta Lake. destinations displayed on dashboard signs or signs on Boats are generally poorly maintained and without the top of car. Hurry cars are unregulated. They do not adequate navigational or life-saving equipment. If display the orange markings of taxis. traveling by boat or ferry, bring your own life preserver. • Intercity and long distance buses are operated by the government owned State Transport Company (STC), Traffic Regulations VIP and Metro Mass Transit. • Seat belt use is mandatory for driver and all • Buses offer city routes and long distance services. passengers. • STC buses operate on a schedule. Tickets must be • All passenger vehicles must be equipped with a first purchased in advance from an STC office. aid kit, fire extinguisher and a warning triangle. • Metro Mass buses provide service between cities • Minimum age to drive is 18. along major roads. Schedules are flexible. • Children under the age of five years may not be seated • STC and VIP buses only allow passengers to board at in front seats unless in a child restraint. the original point of departure. Metro Mass buses will • Child restraints are not required by law for children pick up passengers anywhere along the route if seats over the age of five. For safety, children should be are available. seated in rear seats and secured in child restraints • Trotros are generally regarded as unsafe. appropriate to age and height. • There is no central licensing system for trotros, or • Helmet use is compulsory for motorcycle drivers and guarantee of adequate driving training. passengers. Helmets must be fastened. • Trotros are often in poor mechanical condition and • Children are not restricted