37 Killed in 118 Road Crashes in Akwa Ibom

The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, said on Sunday that it recorded 118 road crashes and 37 deaths in Akwa Ibom in 2015.

The Sector Commander of the corps, Cecelia Alao, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Uyo.

Ms. Alao said that those that died in the crashes were 19 males, 17 females and a child, while 39 lives were lost in 2014.

She said the 118 road crashes recorded in 2015 was lower than the153 cases recorded the previous year.

The sector commander also said that 81 persons were injured during the year under review as against 141 persons in 2014.

She attributed the reduction to effective patrol and rigorous sensitization campaign carried out by the FRSC especially during festive periods.

"We brainstormed and strategized on our corporate goals in line with the emerging traffic challenges to curb certain issues coming up within the year.

"We had very robust and tasking goals in 2015 among which was to ensure reduction in road traffic crashes which we achieved very reasonably in Akwa Ibom State," she said.

The sector commander said that the predominant risk factors to road crashes in the state were speed limit violation and dangerous overtaking.

According to her, research has shown that about 53 per cent of road traffic crashes across the country is caused by over-speeding.

She said the command had continued to campaign against speed limit violation and dangerous overtaking, in order to reduce the number of crashes on the roads.

Ms. Alao said the command would intensify its campaign this year to achieve further reduction in the rate of road crashes in the state.

She said sensitization of the stakeholders in the transport industry had commenced, with a view to getting them ready for compliance with the rule on installation of speed limiting device.

The sector commander said that the application of the rule would commence on April 1.

She added, "we have agreed that the FRSC will start full implementation of installation of speed limiting device in commercial vehicles on April 1."

"We are presently engaging all stakeholders in the sector to sensitise their members on the enforcement of the rule on installation of the device on commercial vehicles.

"We are adopting far-reaching methods to inform all Akwa Ibom people to be prepared."

The sector commander appealed to stakeholders, including the state government, to collaborate with the command, to achieve its core mandate of zero road crashes in 2016.

(NAN)