Pedestrians using the Labour-Adum stretch in Kumasi have urged the government to take immediate steps to improve road safety. They are specifically calling for the restoration of bollards to protect them while crossing the road.
According to some road users, the removal of these bollards has created a dangerous situation, as drivers now frequently make U-turns at that section, putting pedestrian lives at risk.
The Labour-Adum stretch is one of the busiest road corridors in Kumasi. Bollards previously erected to restrict dangerous U-turns and enhance pedestrian safety have recently been removed. The result, many say, is a significant rise in risky driving behaviour and threats to pedestrians.
Some pedestrians shared their frustrations and the challenges they now face with Channel One News.
“There was one particular case, a pick-up was coming from Adum to the other side, so when he saw the traffic, he thought it wise to use a shortcut. There was a ford coming from Tech, which led to a crash,” a pedestrian revealed.
“Whenever there is traffic, tri-cycle operators normally use that stretch as a U-turn. It creates fear when crossing the road,” another pedestrian said.
They are appealing to authorities to urgently restore the bollards in a way that prioritises pedestrian safety and curbs reckless driving.
In a related development, some road users are also raising concerns about the location of the zebra crossing near the Asafo Market. They argue that its current positioning increases the likelihood of accidents.
“The positioning of the zebra crossing is not ideal. It’s too close to the overhead. Most of the time, vehicles descend at high speed from the overhead, which can lead to accidents, especially if drivers have to suddenly slow down,” a pedestrian bemoaned.
While police recently carried out operations targeting road traffic violations, attempts to get official responses from the relevant authorities have so far been unsuccessful.
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