Posted by By MURPHY GANAGANA, Abuja on
The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) on Wednesday reeled out frightening casualty figures recorded in road accidents for last month alone, during which 473 persons reportedly lost their lives.
The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) on Wednesday reeled out frightening casualty figures recorded in road accidents for last month alone, during which 473 persons reportedly lost their lives.
Corps Commander and FRSC Head of Public Education, Yakubu Attah, said in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, that the deceased included 305 adult males, 163 adult females, and five children, who died in a total of 1,042 reported incidents of road traffic accidents.
Road accident statistics for the month of August 2007, further showed that 2,246 persons sustained serious injuries in the mishaps, a remarkable increase from the 1,426 injured persons recorded in the same month of last year. The current 473 death toll is, however, a slight reduction from the 499 figure recorded in August 2006.
The FRSC identified speed violation, dangerous driving, and tyre burst as the major factors that contributed to the accidents during the period under review. Describing the increasing fatality rate as worrisome, the Commission noted that 27 deaths and 34 injuries were reported within one week in just three cases of accidents along the Akure-Lokoja-Okene-Biu highways.
Conscious of the peculiarities associated with ember months, the FRSC urged road users to avoid night travels and other vices such as overloading, drunk driving, under age driving, and over speeding, among others, just as it stated its readiness to ensure strict enforcement of all road regulations.
The Commission said it has planned intensive patrols and public enlightenment campaigns for the season towards ensuring a drastic reduction in road accidents during the ember months.