27th January, 2023
By Ibironke Ariyo
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said it recorded a total of 381 people killed in road traffic crashes across Nigeria during its Operation Zero Tolerance Special Patrols spanning December 15, 2022 to January 15, 2023.
The one month programme was designed to bring sanity to the road during the yuletide period when traffic is usually heavy
FRSC Corps Marshall, Dauda Biu, the Corps Marshal, Dauda Biu, revealed this to journalists at a press briefing in Abuja on Friday.
He said the deaths were recorded recorded a total of 626 road traffic accidents across the nation during the one month operation.
According to him, 4,698 people were involved in the RTCs, while 2,082 people sustained various degrees of injuries.
Biu said the Corps went into the exercise with strategic initiatives that would tackle all variables that promoted RTCs particularly speed which had been a principal risk factor over the years.
He said that the Corps was out to check and tackle it head on by intensifying enforcement on the compulsory installation of Speed Limiting Device by all commercial vehicles.
“We also ensured that the 2022 exercise was well put together with evidence-based projections, timely and judicious deployments of personnel and equipment complemented by a large pool of volunteers.
“These are in the categories of the Police, Military and Paramilitary Agencies, Ambulance Service Organisations, Federal and State Ministries of Works, Construction Companies, and Community Volunteers.
“During the Operation Zero Tolerance to road crashes, a total of 2,295 people were rescued without injuries while 30,726 People were arrested for various offences.
“690 people were arraigned, out of which 650 were convicted with paid fines, 0 were imprisoned, while 40 were discharged and acquitted, “he said.
Biu said that there were increase in the 2022 records as against 2021 adding that the increase recorded in most of the data presented occurred majorly because of increased visibility.
This, he said was as a result of a much wider coverage by Operatives, particularly with establishment of Local Government Stations which resulted in almost all traffic crashes across the country been captured.
He listed the main factors responsible for the crashes as speed violation and continuous night journey leading to Fatigue.
Other factors are driving Under Influence, dangerous driving, Wrongful overtaking and tyre violation (worn out and expired) were among notable factors that caused RTCs during the yuletide season.
He urged travelers to as much as possible avoid excessive speed and steer clear night trips due to the perennial dangers that comes with it.
He emphasised that poor visibility, excessive speed, fatigue and other unhealthy driving behaviours were also associated with driving during the dark hours on Nigerian roads.
“I say this because, travelling at night is a risk factor to all road users, and this must be totally avoided to save lives, “he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)