Spatial Implications of the Yamoransa-Mankessim Coastal Highway on Pedestrian Safety

Abstract

The study examined spatial and safety implications of the Yamoransa-Mankessim coastal highway section of the Trans-West Africa coastal highway linking Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and Togo. Although this road network was constructed mainly to facilitate faster and safer movement of goods and services between the affected countries, sections of the highway, specifically the Yamoransa-Mankessim stretch, have witnessed increasing cases of vehicle-human collision. This study attributes the rising rate of vehicle-human collisions to the location of the highway as it passes through some coastal settlements and in some cases almost dividing such settlements into two equal halves. Geo-statistical mapping was done to portray the relationships between location of the highway and frequency of vehicle-human collisions reported between 2005 and 2009. Correlation analysis and statistical test were also performed on data on observed collisions over the period. The results showed that pedestrian carelessness other than excessive speeding is the major cause of the vehicle-human collisions on the highway. It is recommended that overhead foot bridges and metal barricades be provided in the affected communities by the Mfantseman Municipal Assembly and the Ghana Highway Authority in order to facilitate easy crossing of the highway and reduce the risk of vehicle-human collisions