BY CHIBUZOR ISHICHEI
It would appear that there is an evil wind blowing across the nation during this period of the year. Everything bad appears to be on the increase. Name them: robbery, banditry, stealing, motor accidents and other evil deeds.
In all, the most noticeable is motor accidents, and it is said that next to hired killers in society is motor crashes. Road crashes in this country have become a significant public health concern, resulting in thousands of deaths and injuries every year.
According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria tops the list of African countries with the most traffic accident-related fatalities, and people are complaining about the incessant road crashes, which result in loss of lives and property. The FRSC said that the causes of these crashes are multifaceted, including speed violations, poor road conditions, driver behaviours, vehicle conditions, brake failure, and overloading, among others.
Worried about the terrible crashes, the Federal Government established the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) as far back as 1988 to address the growing concern of road traffic accidents. Today, the FRSC operates in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, working to reduce road accidents and promote safe driving practices.
In truth, the FRSC’s efforts have shown promising results with a significant reduction in road crashes and fatalities. However, the Corps acknowledges that there is still room for improvement and more to be done, adding that it is committed to doing more to achieve its target of reducing road traffic crashes by five per cent every year, and aligning with the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety.
According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria recorded 5,081 deaths in Road Traffic Crashes in 2023, representing a 21 per cent decrease from 6,456 deaths in 2022. To provide more context on the estimate of road accidents of annual fatalities, around 5,000 to 6,000 deaths annually approximately 15 persons per day were reported in 2021, and thousands of vehicles are involved in road crashes each year, with cars, motorcycles and minibuses being common types of vehicles involved.
Probably, on this score, President Bola Tinubu recently said that the Federal Government was committed to a future where road crashes no longer claim lives. According to reports, Tinubu made the declaration in his keynote address at this year’s opening ceremony of the International Day of Remembrance for Road Safety Victims Conference in Abuja.
The President, represented by the Secretary to the Federation (SGF), Sen George Akume, said that the era of preventable deaths on the Nation’s highways must end. He said the conference theme “Gathering Africa and the world for Road Crash Victims” reflected a shared resolve to address what he described as an “endemic “of road crashes affecting families and communities nationwide.
The event brought together families of victims, safety advocates, policymakers and development partners. Citing statistics from the World Health Organisation (WHO), they noted that about 1.19 million people die annually from Road Traffic accidents globally, while another 50 million sustain various degrees of injuries. This is too bad and sad to know.
Tinubu also said that almost every Nigerian has either suffered or knows someone who has suffered from a road crash, adding that many victims live with permanent scars and long-term trauma from a road crash.
Well said by the President. The world would be a better place if the policies were translated into actions. Probably, that explains why people’s reaction to road crashes in Nigeria is one of concern and frustration. Yes, many Nigerians are fed up with the high rate of accidents on the roads, which often result in loss of lives and property. The frequency and severity are also a source of worry, and the crashes have led to widespread outrage and calls to improve road safety measures.
When Lifestyle asked a retired Road Safety Official who preferred anonymity whether Road Traffic crashes can be checked, he answered in the affirmative, noting that road crashes can be checked through a combination of efforts from various stakeholders. He listed some ways to achieve this, including improved road infrastructure, enforcing traffic laws, and promoting safe vehicle standards and public awareness campaigns. He also mentioned driver training and emergency response, among others.
He said that road crashes tend to increase during certain times of the year due to various factors, especially during festive periods, and the underlying causes contribute to the rise in accidents. These include poor road conditions, reckless driving, drug use, overloading and lack of enforcement of existing rules.
According to him, these factors are compounded by the fact that the Nigerian road network is one of the largest in sub-Saharan Africa, with a high volume of traffic and a lack of alternative routes of transportation. He added that to mitigate these issues, it is essential to implement strict traffic laws and promote public awareness campaigns.
