Non-functioning traffic lights at various intersections in the Greater Accra Region pose grave danger to motorists and pedestrians.
This phenomenon is increasing the risk of road traffic crashes, creating traffic jams, and endangering the lives of people.
It can be deadly, leaving victims maimed for life.
Over the past years, it has become common to see many traffic lights out of order in the capital.
One of the notable spots is the UPSA Junction, off the Madina-Accra road, where pedestrians cross the road at their own peril.
The traffic lights have not been functioning for months. Students and the aged contend with speeding vehicles to cross over.
Amid the growing worrying trend, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Pearl Sateckla, has advised that motorists and pedestrians must exercise discipline at intersections where the traffic lights are non-functional.
“It’s very worrying and then a dangerous precedent. We wouldn’t wish that happens but it has happened. So when you get to an intersection where the traffic lights are not working, that is when you have to be disciplined enough.
“Your safety should be paramount to you; your concentration should be on the road, tolerate other drivers. It will take discipline for us to manage the situation,” she said.
At many busy intersections, drivers from different directions have to negotiate their way through; and in cases where the communication goes wrong, travelling becomes a daring adventure.
Police MTTD officers who control traffic at such places put their lives at great risk.
“We are in contact with the Department of Urban Roads who have the management of the traffic lights under their domain. They engaged us and explained to us that the traffic lights that are in the country are sort of outmoded and so there is a major policy at their end to replace all of them.
“But the major problem they also have is pilfering – thieves taking away all the wires from [the traffic lights],” Pearl Sateckla added.
Also at Kaneshie First Light, none of the installed traffic lights there is working.
A visit by the news team to the area showed that the intersection becomes a hotspot for crashes during the rush hours of the day.
When the traffic lights get faulty, a new normal begins for some young and middle-aged and even old men who take on a new role as traffic wardens.
A physically-challenged traffic warden, whose name has been given as Bernard, voluntarily helps to direct traffic in the evenings after the police officers leave.
“What I have realised is that on most of the highways, the traffic [lights] are not working; and when it happens like that, a lot of accidents occur. I have been directing traffic at other places too,” he revealed.
Even as he was engaged, it became necessary for him to ensure his personal safety. This voluntary or unpaid work can sometimes be torturous.
“My problem is about the drivers. They rather become irresponsible,” he lamented.
Few minutes after he left, the Kaneshie First Light intersection became chaotic.
Other places such as Awoshie Junction, Ashaley Botwe-3rd Gate, Mataheko, Graphic Road, Kasoa-Tetegu Junction, among others in the Greater Accra Region have faulty or non-functioning traffic lights.
A recent research by the NRSA showed that nearly half of traffic lights in the Region are non-functional, with the Ashanti Region being the second on the list of regions with non-functioning traffic lights, followed by the Central and Western regions.
Efforts to get official responses from the Department of Urban Roads were unsuccessful even though TV3 had earlier submitted a letter requesting for an interview.
Traffic lights ensure that sanity prevails on the roads. Non-functioning traffic lights, however, are a recipe for disaster.
Efforts must be made to ensure that non-functioning traffic lights are fixed immediately to prevent road crashes.
By Christian Yalley|TV3|3news.com|Ghana