Gyang Bere, Jos
The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, said 2805 road crashes with 1,602 deaths were recorded within embers months in 2017.
He noted that 20,196 persons and 4503 vehicles were involved in the accident.
Mr. Oyeyemi disclosed this in Jos on Tuesday through the Zonal Head of Operations, Imoh Etuk, during the 2018 Ember Months campaign in Jos tagged ‘Safety driving saves lives’.
“In the months of September, October, November and December 2017, the total numbers of crashes recorded were 2805, numbers of deaths were 1,602, people involved were 20196, and vehicles involved were 4503.
“The Corps has resolved to trend down the figures listed above by a huge margin, and this can only be achieved with the cooperation of all road safety stakeholders.”
He insisted that there is need for drivers to have drivers licence, highway codes and need to change from old number plates to new number plates for uniformity of the corpse licensing scheme.
Oyeyemi explained that enforcement programmes would be running alongside the enlightenment Campaigns particularly the Operation Cobra which was initiated to curb specific offences such as light violation, drunk driving, dangerous driving, use of phone while driving and Route violation.
Sector Commander, Plateau State Command, Pat Emeordi, cautioned drivers against over-speeding and over-loading, saying the Ember months come with all other of crashes.
“The reality on ground is that in these months heralding the end of the year vehicular movements of human and commodities from one place to another increase.
“Tied to these movements are several human misconducts and traffic infractions that increase conflicts in traffic generally.
“These includes unwholesome practices as dangerous driving, over-loading, use of phones while driving, route violation, wrongful overtaking, speeding an old others.
“This bring corresponding incidences of crashes during the season on our roads.”