3,700 lives lost to road accidents in 10 months – FRSC

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says 3,700 persons lost their lives in vehicle accidents in the country between January and October.

The Acting Corps Marshal FRSC, Dauda Biu, disclosed this on Tuesday, in Abuja, at the joint news briefing to commemorate the 2022 Africa Road Safety and World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Crash victims.

Biu said that the commemoration gave credence to the ever-growing need to galvanised stakeholders from all sectors of the economy towards engendering higher road Safety standards.

This, he said, was with a view to put to an end, all incidences that gave momentum of Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs) and injuries adding that the menace had become a huge threat to human existence that must be stemmed by all means available.

“I say this because of the negative impact of RTCs in the country, particularly the attendant loss of lives and damage to properties that come with it.

“For instance, from January to October 2022 alone, no fewer than 3,700 persons were killed by RTCs. These are human beings not just numbers representing inanimate creatures.

“These are fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters and of course breadwinners whose lives have been cut short by the actions and in-actions of road users who have refused to comply with established traffic regulations,” he said.

Biu said that the theme of year 2022 commemoration speaks volume of the readiness, and also resolve, on the part to stakeholders to reawaken the consciousness towards joining forces with the corps to bring the menace to a complete halt in Nigeria.

The FRSC boss gave assurance that the corps would continue in its steadfastness and unwavering commitment to duty to ensure absolute sanity on the highways.

This he said would be through effective and efficient traffic law enforcement, massive public enlightenment campaigns and advocacy.

Biu also said it would be to ensure thorough investigation into causes of crashes as a springboard, which was not only for effective formulation and implementation of policies that would prevent road crashes.

According to him, it is also to ensure criminal prosecution where appropriate compensation is giving to victims and their relations as part of renewed justice system.

“This justice system is expected among others to deter road traffic violators and also bring succor to road crash victims and their families whom the recklessness of these traffic violators has kept in a pitiable and sorrowful living conditions.

“Expectedly, I make bold to say and I strongly believe that this year’s theme, would usher in an era of speedy dispensation of Justice for crash victims and their families, as having come at a time when judiciary in Nigeria has shown commitment to the enhancement of adjudication in RTCs, “he said.

He urged road users to always comply with traffic rules and regulations for a safer motoring environment saying that the FRSC firmly believed that a crash free society was possible only if the right thing was done.

It was reported that the theme for the 2022 commemoration, is “Justice, act for low speed and act for low-speed streets”.