By: ADEBOYE ADO, Akure
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ondo State Command, yesterday said that the total number of road traffic cases was reduced to 4.6 per cent between January and September 2023 in the state.
Mr. Ezekiel SonAllah, FRSC Sector Commander in Ondo State, disclosed this in Akure at a press conference to commemorate 2023 African Road Safety Day And World Day Of Remembrance For Road Traffic Victims.
New Nigerian reports that the programme was organised by the World Health Organisation, Ondo State Field Office, in collaboration with the FRSC, Ondo State Command.
The theme of the programme was ‘Justice. Slogan, Remember, Support, Act”.
SonAllah explained that the reduction was achieved through the efforts of the command enlightenment and advocacy to record zero crash on roads.
He said that the command would not relent on its oaths of protect lives and properties on highways.
According to him, in 2022 between January and Sept, 161 serious crashes was recorded while 139 was recorded in the same period in 2023, which is 13.7 per cent decrease.
“In the same months under review, 746 was total casualty recorded in 2022 and 657 in 2023 with the 11.9 per cent decrease, and 1,769 people involved in crashes in the 2022 while 1,297 involved in 2023 with the 26.7 per cent decrease.
“Meanwhile, 97 was killed in 2022 while 116 as well, was killed in 2023, which shows 19.59 per cent increase. 649 people were injured in 2022, while 541 were injured in 2023 with a 16.6 per cent decrease.
“So, 237 total crashes were ecorded in 2022 while 226 recorded in 2023 with a 4.6 decrease. The Command is not resting on our efforts until we are able to record zero crash on our roads,” he said.
SonAllah also said that the remembrance day was to promote evidence- based actions to prevent and eventually stop further road traffic deaths and injuries.
He said that the command would deploy it’s personnel and logistics to man the highways across the state.
The sector commander said that the command would aggressively enforce all critical offences of overloading, speed limit violation, use of phones while driving.
SonAllah also said driving under alcohol/ drug influence, wrongful overtaking, dangerous driving, failure to install speed limit device among others, would also be enforced.
The sector commander, therefore, said that it had became imperative to all motorists to ensure that their vehicles were functioning before embarking on any journey, especially during the festive seasons.
“Like what we said during the ember months campaign, life has no duplicate because if you are driving with defective headlights, you are risking your own life and others.
“Our motorists need to do the needful before plying the highways, both day and night, because what road crash understand is simple obedience of rules and regulations of road traffic.
“As we are advocating for zero crash in Ondo State, we need to realise it is a collective effort and all hands must be on desk.
“As we remember the lives of people that died today, we need to shun whatever could lead to loss of lives and properties,” he said.
