Rising Road Crash Toll: 618 Injured, 146 Lives Lost in Oyo State this Year
The Oyo State branch of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has reported that a total of 146 individuals lost their lives in different road accidents that occurred within the state from January to June.
Joshua Adekanye, the state Sector Commander of the FRSC, conveyed this information to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Ibadan.
In the same period, there were 246 recorded road crashes resulting in injuries to 618 individuals.
The breakdown of fatalities by month is as follows: 15 in January, 15 in February, 23 in March, 24 in April, 45 in May, and 24 in June.
However, Adekanye explained that after conducting investigations, it was found that several factors contributed to these accidents, including overspeeding, driving under the influence of substances like drugs and alcohol, as well as mechanical issues.
To address this issue, the sector commander has issued a warning to drivers against engaging in reckless driving. He highlighted that the FRSC has intensified its efforts in enforcing road safety rules and raising public awareness through campaigns held at motor parks, churches, and mosques.
He further elaborated, “To mitigate road accidents, the FRSC has not only increased its enforcement actions but also intensified public education campaigns within parks, mosques, and churches. We utilize various media platforms such as radio, print, and social media to disseminate information. Collaborations with local leaders have also been established to educate people in their communities about avoiding behaviors that lead to road accidents.”
“In addition, our enforcement activities and mobile courts have been strengthened to swiftly arraign and prosecute traffic offenders,” Adekanye added.
Regarding the lack of road signs, Adekanye acknowledged that scavengers were responsible for stealing signposts and plates, posing a danger to both drivers and pedestrians.
He mentioned that discussions were ongoing with the federal and state ministries of works to replace the missing road signs.
