A new Facebook-like platform launched to help curb road accidents in Ghana

Drifan, a digital road safety platform developed by the Ghana Driver & Traffic Safety (GDRS) Foundation, was launched this week to assist minimize the threat of road accidents on Ghana’s roadways.

Drifan is a social media-like tool that allows road users to capture and share live road hazard alerts from all around the country.

Users can upload photos of broken-down automobiles in hazardous locations, major road faults, malfunctioning traffic signals, and other hazards that could cause collisions.

“Drifan gives you the power to save lives by posting road alerts which can serve as a warning to community road users and prevent road traffic crashes,” a statement on the web-based platform reads.

The National Road Safety Authority and the Driver & Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) in Ghana collaborated on the platform’s development.

The case for Drifan 

In Ghana, road accidents are a major public safety and economic concern.

Road traffic accidents are among the top ten causes of death in the West African country, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
According to another research, over $230 million is spent yearly on emergency and trauma care as a result of motor vehicle accidents.

The Ghana Police Service’s Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) recorded nearly 10,000 road accidents between January 1 and July 31 this year, with an equal number of individuals killed or injured.

Road accidents have a variety of causes, ranging from poor road conditions to driver behavior and vehicle condition.

 

However, it’s possible that timely road safety education and precise traffic information might help avert a considerable number of collisions.

A screenshot of the Drifan platform
A screenshot of the Drifan platform

Drivers and other road users can also get road safety information and education through the Drifan platform, which is available in English and various local languages.
Prizes are awarded to drivers who finish the quizzes.

Drifan is a work in progress, according to Freda Frimpong, Director of Projects and Partnerships at the GDRS Foundation, who stated at the inaugural ceremony that it will see many more functions over time.

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