The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Thursday said that no fewer than 59 people died in various auto crashes in different parts of Ijebu Ode , Ogun State, between January and October this year.
The Ijebu Ode Unit Commander of the FRSC, Bashiru Adeyemi, disclosed this at the ‘Ember’ Months Campaign , at the Lagos Motor Park in Ijebu Ode.
Adeyemi said that most of the accidents occurred between Babcock University, Ilisan Junction and Area J4 Junction on the Sagamu – Ijebu Ode -Benin Expressway.
The unit commander said that within the Ijebu Ode corridor, 47 road traffic crashes involving 437 people were recorded.
He added that 59 deaths were recorded with 152 others sustaining various injuries within the period.
He said that the essence of the campaign was to raise public awareness on the proper use of the road by road users and how to encourage communities’ involvement in the prevention of crashes.
“A few days from now, we expect a heavy vehicular movement on our roads as people will be transiting to different parts of the country in preparation for Christmas and New year festivities.
” This anticipated heavy vehicular movement will lead to road traffic crashes if care is not taken. There is the need to be safety conscious even beyond the festive period, ” he said.
Adeyemi urged drivers to shun excessive speeding, wrongful overtaking, lane indiscipline, recklessness and other attitudes capable of jeorpadising safety on the highways.
He said, “To ensure seamless and uninterrupted movements along the corridor during the festive period, we are going to be more visible on the roads to promptly respond to emergencies and to enforce traffic rules.”
Also, the Ogun Sector Commander of the FRSC, Clement Oladele, advised commercial vehicle drivers to always have stable minds before driving and also have 100 per cent concentration on the road.
Oladele, represented by the Corridor Commander for the Sagamu – Ijebu Ode – Benin Expressway, Lanrewaju Ogundele , advised drivers to desist from driving under the influence of alcohol.
The sector commander assured the travelling public that officers from the command would be fully on ground always on the highways across the state.
He urged motorists to always obey traffic rules and regulations while driving.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the representatives of the Nigeria Army, TRACE, VIO, RTEAN and NURTW attended the event.
In Edo State, the Sector Command of the FRSC has said that 143 persons were killed in road safety crashes in the state due to absent mindedness of drivers.
Mr Anthony Oko, State sector commander of the corps revealed this on Thursday in Benin, at the flag-off of the 2019 Ember month campaign by the corps.
Oko said that the figure which represents 37 per cent was between January and October.
He said that the deaths were recorded from 170 road traffic cases, which involved 351 vehicles, while 664 persons were recorded injured.
He also revealed that 136 persons were recorded killed in 2018 due to the same factor, adding that the figure represented 39 per cent.
He explained that out of 290 probable causes of crashes that year, 113 were deduced to be caused by drivers absent mindedness.
He added that the figure was from 206 total crashes that happened within that period, with 387 vehicles involved and 801 persons injured.
The sector commander said that the theme for 2019 “Road Crash is Absence of Mind: Stay Alert, Stay Alive” was apt in capturing the situation.
He noted that absent mindedness was a topical issue that requires the attention of the state and relevant stakeholders as the yuletide approaches to increase awareness.
He explained that some of the road traffic crashes that emanated from drivers absent mindedness were use of phone while driving, fatigue, driving under influence and dangerous driving.
Others include wrongful overtaking, loss of control and some others that the road safety managers would look out for during this period.
Oko said that based on the records, the government and relevant stakeholders were to ensure that home grown initiatives and strategies working in synergy were deployed to make the campaign successful.
He therefore stressed the need for all to adhere strictly to road traffic laws and regulations at all levels and collaborate with the command to enforce traffic laws, ensure prompt rescue services as well as educate all categories of road users.
Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo in his remarks attributed most road traffic crashes to human factors.
Obaseki, who was represented by Mr Ferguson Enabulele, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Infrastructure therefore advised road users and drivers to be careful in activities and action concerning road traffic.
He cautioned against haste in approaches and emphasised the need to be alert and calculative.
Meanwhile the Zonal Commanding Officer, Zone RS 5, Mr Kehinde Adeleye, noted that during the ember months, there was increase in traffic volume and stressed the need for safety measures to be put in place.
Adeleye, represented by Mr Toby Joseph, a Deputy Corps Commander, explained and the ember month campaign exercise would be on 24 hours daily.
