Federal Road Safety Corps has disclosed that at least 5081 people died in road traffic crashes across the country in 2023, even though the Corps was said to have successfully recorded 22 per cent reduction in road crashes in the out-gone year.
Corps Marshal of FRSC, Mr Dauda Ali Biu disclosed this on Monday during a chat with newsmen on the activities of the Corps during its end of the year 2023 special patrol operations tagged; ‘Operation Zero Tolerance’ which commenced on 15 December 2023 and ended on 15 January 2024.
He blamed dangerous driving, night trips, and driving under influence on the major causes of road carnages, noting that from 1st January to 31st December 2023 a total of 10,617 road traffic crashes were recorded across the country.
The FRSC boss stated that this figure is against 13,656 which was recorded in the same period in 2022, thus, representing 22 per cent decrease in road crashes in 2023.
He urged the Federal Government to initiate a policy that will make it compulsory for installation of speed limit devices in all categories in vehicles in the country as a way to check excesses of some drivers on highways.
Biu equally called for ban on the use of minibuses for inter-state travel, saying findings by the Corps indicated that the so-called 18-seater buses are prone to accidents unlike the capacity buses, which are created for such distant journeys.
He said, “On annual performance, from January to December 2023, the Corps recorded tremendous reduction in road crashes, fatalities, as well as injuries when compared to the data obtained in 2022.
“From 1 January to 31 December 2023, a total of 10,617 road traffic crashes were recorded across the country. This figure is against 13,656 of 2022 which represents 22% decrease.
“Also, 2023 records reveal that 5081 people were killed against 6456 in 2022 representing 21% reduction, while 31874 victims got injured in 2023, against 38930 in the year 2022 signifying 18.1% decrease.
“Let me emphasize at this juncture that the main factors responsible for the crashes are; Speed violation, Overloading, Driving Under Influence, Continuous Night journey leading to fatigue, Dangerous driving, Wrongful overtaking, Tyre burst (worn out and expired),” he said.
The FRSC boss bemoaned that high number of deaths were recorded during the ‘ember’ months special operations between 15 December, 2023 and 15 January 2024, because of recklessness of articulated vehicle drivers at night, leading to five major accidents alone that claimed the lives of 58 persons, noting that all the deaths were recorded as a result of night trips.
“This alone represents 17% of the total deaths recorded within the 2023 outing period,” he said.
The statistics on fatalities recorded by Corps during the 2023 ‘ember’ months special from 15 December 2023 to 15 January 2024, the Corps showed a total of 335 deaths nationwide as against 350 recorded in the same period in 2022, representing 4 per cent reduction.
“Between 15 of December, 2023 and 15 January, 2024, which marked the period of the special patrol operations, a total of 634 road traffic crashes took place nationwide, as against 535 in the same period in 2022 representing 19% increase. The 2023 crashes involved 4709 people, this is against 4162 recorded in 2022 signifying 13% increase.
“Meanwhile, the total number of people injured increased by 17% as the Corps has a record of 2,055 people injured in 2023 against 1762 in the same period in 2022. Also, the Corps rescued a total of 2319 people in 2022 signifying 13% increase when compared to a total of 2050 recorded in 2022,” the Corps Marshal said.
The Corps Marshal then pointed out that the Corps was able to achieve reduction in road crashes through the instrumentality and resilience of management and operatives, stating that the Corps went all out to check and tackle the causative factors head-on by intensifying enforcement on overloading, compulsory installation of speed limiting device by all commercial vehicles as well as broadened the scope of enlightenment campaigns to sensitive motorists on the hazards associated with night trips.
He disozed that the Corps also put together evidence-based projections, timely and judicious deployment of personnel and equipment complemented by a large pool of volunteers in the categories of; Special Marshals and Road Safety Clubs, the Police, Military and Paramilitary Agencies, Ambulance Service Organizations, Federal and State Ministries of Works, Construction Companies, and Community Volunteers
“On enforcement of traffic offences, the Corps ensured the intensification of special enforcement by organizing in collaboration with the Judiciary, 93 Mobile Court Sessions.
“Out of these sessions, 1,303 traffic offenders were arraigned, 1,159 convicted, and 144 discharged and acquitted. The Corps also recorded a big boost in its routine enforcement having arrested during the 2023 exercise, total of 29,220 as against 21,899 in the same period in 2022, representing 33% increase.
“These offenders were apprehended for committing 33,892 offences in 2023 against 25,401 in the same period in 2022 which signifies 33% increase as well,” he said.
Speaking on the achievements in 2023 outing as well as the impact it has on Corps’ policy direction, he noted that the management has decided to sustain all existing strategies that are capable of curbing road accidents and engender a safer motoring environment in the coming years.
