Not less than 1070 persons were rescued from about 160 road crashes that occurred across the country during the just concluded Easter festivities, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has stated. The Corps also added that, 79 persons lost their lives in road crashes during the period under review.
A statement made available to African Business Travel News (ABTN) today by the Corps Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem said that following the just concluded 2018 Easter special patrol which lasted from Wednesday March 28, 2018 to Tuesday 3 April 3, 2018, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) recorded a total of 1,071 number of people rescued from a total of 160 crashes nationwide, with 1,150 people involved.
Unfortunate the statement added that 79 persons lost their lives in road crashes during the 2018 Easter holidays.
Giving the breakdown of the road traffic crashes across the nation during the period, Kazeem stated that 15 tanker/trailers, 42 trucks, 56 buses, 78 cars, 40 motorcycles, 8 Tricycles, 6 pickups, and 2 animals were involved in different degrees of accidents.
Comparing this year’s record with that of same period during the previous year, the Corps’ spokesperson stated that 431 people were rescued without injuries in 2017 Easter special patrol, while 543 were rescued during the 2018 Easter special patrol without injuries, which marks 26% improvement from 2017 record. However, he noted that the number of persons rescued with injuries in road traffic crashes during the 2018 Easter celebration period were 528 compared to 475 in 2017, and this marks an increase by 12%.
In the same vein, he mentioned that from the total number of 160 crashes, 38 were fatal crashes compared to 33 in 2017 which represents 15% increase; 94 were serious crashes compared to 89 in 2017 which represents 5.6% increase; and 28 were minor crashes compared to 25 in 2017 which represents 12% increase.
He added that of the 1,150 persons involved in road traffic crashes during the 2018 Easter celebration period, 247 vehicles were involved compared to 209 in 2017, and 79 persons lost their lives in 2018 compared to 57 in 2017.
The Corps spokesperson also added that a total of 5,836 offenders were apprehended in 2018 compared to 7,361 in 2017; a total of 6,551 offences were recorded in 2018 compared to 8,896 in 2017; and a total of 3,085 impoundments were made compared to 3,500 in 2017.
The Corps also revealed that with respect to Mobile Court sittings that was spread across Nigeria during this period, a total of 337 persons were arraigned in 2018 Easter Special patrol compared to 399 persons in 2017; 318 offenders were convicted in 2018 compared to 379 in 2017; and 16 persons discharged and acquitted in 2018 compared to 17 in 2017.
Further to this, Kazeem disclosed that in 2018, enlightenment through Motor park rallies increased by 4.81% in 2018, and Radio Programmes increased by 25.78 in 2018.
Further to this, Kazeem disclosed that in 2018, enlightenment through Motor park rallies increased by 4.81% in 2018, and Radio Programmes increased by 25.78 in 2018
Reiterating the Corps Marshal, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, the Corps Public Education Officer stated that the FRSC now has a wider coverage due to the establishment of more FRSC Commands, Outposts, road side clinics and Zebra points who now feed in reports from different routes that were hitherto not thoroughly covered.
He stressed that the increase in number of road crashes, increase in the number of persons involved, and increase in the number of persons killed was due to the reports that emanated from the new FRSC formations.
It will be recalled that Oyeyemi had earlier directed that the 2018 Easter special patrol to cover 39 corridors which includes but not limited to Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega-Birnin Kebbi; Mokwa-Birnin Yero-Zaria; Maiduguri-Biu-Numan-Jalingo-Wukari; Lafia-Langtang-Pankshin-Jos; Abuja-Lokoja-Okene; Lokoja-Auchi-Benin; Onitsha-Njaba-Owerri-Umuahia, Ibadan-Oyo-Ogbomosho; and Ibadan-Ogere-Shagamu.
In view of the directive of the Corps Marshal which is a move away from previous years where the focus was on critical corridors, Kazeem noted that the Corps intensified its patrol operations and enlightenment campaigns by giving adequate coverage to all 39 routes across Nigeria.
Further to this, Kazeem disclosed that in 2018, enlightenment through Motor park rallies increased by 4.81% in 2018, and Radio Programmes increased by 25.78 in 2018.
Kazeem noted that the positive changes in the reduction of offences and offenders, impoundments, and arraignments captured above is attributable to increase in Public Enlightenment, Enforcement, Traffic control, cooperation from Stakeholders, and the fully automated process of obtaining Drivers licence which ensures that Motorists must be trained in Driving Schools before they are qualified to apply for their Licences.
