The Lagos Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Olusegun Ogungbemide has revealed that the agency’s records indicates that 416 accidents occurred in eight months during night driving in the state.
On Monday, Mr. Olusegun Ogungbemide, the Commander Federal Road Safety Corps, Lagos state, stated that the agency’s history reveals that a total of 416 auto crashes had occurred during the past eight months, particularly at night drives.
Ogungbemide addressed a media conference hosted in Lagos state.
Following the rapid accumulation of recorded Road accidents caused by drivers’ recklessness and irresponsibility on the steer wheel, the press conference was held.
He noted that the 416 Road accidents were reported between the hours of 6.00 p.m to 6.00 a.m from the month of January to August.
The Officers urged motorists to take safety precautions while intending to hit the road at night, so to evade any case of auto crash and safeguard their lives
He said: ‘Our crash reports within the period show that a total of 416 crashes were recorded, in which 705 people were involved.’
‘Out of the 705 people involved in various crashes within the period under review, 558 were seriously injured and 97 lost their lives.’
‘The Federal Road Safety under the leadership of Acting Corps Marshal, Dauda Biu, will continue demonstrating its commitment to mitigating rate and fatalities of road traffic crashes.’
Ogungbemide said the corps had already discussed the policy of discouraging night travel through public sensitization programs.
The commander said that the civil approach to discourage night travel was based on the need to raise public awareness of hazards faced when crash occurs during the period.
He noted that the Road safety official could not possibly be omnipresent, it crucial for drivers to exhibit self-regulation in dealing with security challenges
Ogungbemide said the FRSC could not specify what time individuals could make journeys to their destination, as that was exclusively a human rights case.
He said that the record of crashes had raised alarm that more efforts needs to be exerted to reach a significant audience and achieve the goals.
Ogungbemide said the FRSC also faced challenges with rescue operations at night.
He noted that the possibility of victims getting adequate medical attention couldn’t be accessible at such odd hours due to numerous factors.
The corps commander applauded the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and other enforcement agencies for their cooperation. He said that this assisted the command in accomplishing its statute.
Ogungbemide lauded the media for putting out road safety messages.
He said that the corps had to align with the United Nations General Assembly’s petitions on the actions against the menace.
Ogungbemide urged institutions, individuals and organisations to join the road safety lead agency in actualising the goal.
Africa Today News, New York