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

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says 3,700 people 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 galvanize stakeholders from all sectors of the economy towards engendering higher road safety standards.

This, he said, was with a view to putting to an end, all incidences that gave momentum to 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 inactions of road users who have refused to comply with established traffic regulations,” he said.

Biu stated that the theme of the 2022 commemoration speaks volumes about stakeholders’ readiness and resolve to reawaken consciousness toward joining forces with the corps to bring the menace to an end 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 stated that it would ensure a thorough investigation into the causes of crashes as a springboard, not only for the effective formulation and implementation of policies to prevent road accidents.

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

“This justice system is expected, among others, to deter road traffic violators and also bring succour to road crash victims and their families, whom the recklessness of these traffic violators has kept in 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. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme for the 2022 commemoration, is “Justice, act for low speed and act for low-speed streets”.