The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has announced that it recorded 27 per cent decrease in the number of road crashes during the recent Eid-el-Fitri celebration compared to the same period in 2019.
The Corps Public Education Officer, Mr Bisi Kazeem, said in a statement that the decrease resulted from the special patrol systematically deployed during the period to ensure free flow of traffic and safety of tavellers.
Kazeem said that a total of 5511 offenders were arrested for committing 6858 offences between 11 and May 17 that the operation lasted.
He also said that 92 road traffic crashes were recorded as against 117 crashes in the same period in 2019 representing 27 per cent decrease.
The commission covered 1575 routes, impounded 3051 vehicles representing 8.9 per cent decrease and apprehended 5511 offenders as against 5713 offenders in 2019 or 3.5 per cent decrease.
He said that those arrested committed 6858 offences as against 6481 offences in the same period in 2019 or a 5.8 per cent decrease.
Kazeem attributed the decrease in crashes to coordinated factors, including the establishment of offices in almost all the 774 local government areas, intensified public enlightenment and nationwide sensitisation campaigns in collaboration with stakeholders in the transportation sector and effective patrol operations.
The spokesperson said that in the same period in 2019, out of the 117 crashes that involved a total of 856 people, 54 were killed as against 43 in 2021, representing 26 per cent drop decrease in fatality.
He added that a record of 260 people were rescued with injuries in 2021 as against 343 in 2019 representing 32 per cent decrease while 469 people were rescued without injuries in 2019 as against 266 in 2021 representing a decrease of 76 per cent.
Quoting the Corps Marshal of the commission, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, the spokesman said that the commission now had a wider coverage due to the establishment of more commands, outposts, road side clinics and zebra points in routes that were hitherto not covered.
Oyeyemi also revealed that the comparison with 2019 was due to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 which halted conventional operations.
He added that the reduction in crashes and number of offenders was an indication that the public enlightenment efforts of the commission was yielding results while road users were complying accordingly.
The corps marshal had earlier directed the 2021 special patrol to cover 45 corridors in Sokoto, Kebbi, Kaduna, Borno, Taraba, Nasarawa, Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Abuja, Kogi, Ondo, Benue, Enugu, Delta, Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, Edo, Anambra, Imo and Abia among others. ##
