Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Dauda Biu has disclosed that from January 2023 to December, the corps recorded a reduction in road crashes, fatalities as well as injuries.
Speaking yesterday in Abuja while briefing the press to mark the end of operation zero tolerance exercise, he said from the 1st of January to the 31 of December 2023, a total of 10,617 road traffic crashes were recorded across the country. He said the figure was against 13,656 of 2022 which represents 22% decrease.
He said 2023 revealed 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.
But during the end of year special patrol operations tagged “Operation Zero Tolerance” which took place from from 15th December 2023 to 15th December 2024, he said the accidents recorded were a total of 634 road traffic crashes nationwide, as against 535 in the same period in 2022 representing 19% increase.
On fatalities recorded within that period, he said the Corps recorded a total 335 deaths nationwide as against 350 recorded in the same period in 2022 which represents 4% reduction.
He said the 2023 crashes involved 4709 people as against 4162 recorded in 2022 signifying 13% increase.
He said 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.
He said the Corps rescued a total of 2319 people in 2023 signifying 13% increase when compared to a total of 2050 recorded in 2022.In detail, Biu mentioned some particular crashes within the operation period which were caused by overloading of trailers with a combination of passengers, goods and animals, speed violations, and night trips which, stating that on 23 December, 2023, at 1208HRS in Kwanar Malamawa, Jigawa State, a collision between a Toyota Camry and Volkswagen Golf 3 led to the death of 10 people.He also mentioned that “On 25th December, 2023 at 0635HRS in Inisa, Osun State a lone crash that involved a Mitsubishi Canter resulted in the death of 09 victims and on 01 January, 2024 at 0135HRS in Kakia, Katsina State, also in the dark hours of the day, a lone crash involving Peugeot J5 Bus led to the death of O9 people.”In the same vein, on O2 January, 2024 at 0450HRS in Aiyere, Kwara State, another DAF Trailer collided with a Hiace Bus leading to the death of 11 people, while on 03 January, 2024 at 1950HRS in Sabon Wuse, Niger State, a crash involving a DAF Trailer and a Hiace Bus led to the death of 19 people.
From these 5 crashes alone, a total of 58 victims were killed out of the 335 deaths recorded and all deaths were recorded as a result of night trips. This alone represents 17% of the total deaths recorded within the 2023 outing period.
“On traffic offences, Biu said 93 mobilize court sessions were held during the period to punish traffic offenders.According to him, out of the sessions, 1,303 traffic offenders were arraigned, 1,159 convicted while 144 discharged and acquitted.
He said 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.
“Biu emphasized that the main factors responsible for the crashes were speed violation, Overloading, Driving Under Influence, Continuous Night journey leading to fatigue, Dangerous driving, Wrongful overtaking and Tyre burst, hence warned that they were not acceptable and must be reversed in 2024 and beyond.
He warned that in 2024, “travellers must avoid excessive speed, overloading as much as possible and steer clear night trips due to the perennial dangers that come with it, among which are; poor visibility, excessive speed, fatigue and other unhealthy driving behaviours that are associated with driving during the dark hours on Nigerian roads.
I say this because, travelling at night is a risk factor to all road users, and this must be totally avoided to save lives.”