News, Society

FRSC: “Drivers’ Absent Mindedness Responsible For Road Accidents”

The Edo Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Anthony Oko has said that 37 percent of road accidents that occurred in the last 10months were as a result of lack of consciousness by drivers.

Edo Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Anthony Oko and Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki

Anthony who disclosed this on Thursday, November 28th at the 2019 ember month flag-off campaign themed, “Road crash is absence of mind; stay alert, stay alive”, in Benin noted that it is imperative to address absent-mindedness among drivers particularly during the yuletide season.

According to him, in 2018, out of 290 probable causes of crashes in the state 113 were deduced to be caused by drivers absent-mindedness which represented 39% causing 206 total crashes with 801 people injured, 136 persons death and total of 387 vehicles involved.

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He added that; “from January to October 2019, 37% of probable causes of RTC were caused by drivers absent-minded which led to 170 RTC cases, injuring 664 persons, killed 143 people and 351 vehicles involved and the year is yet to end”.

He however, called for a synergy between the government and key stakeholders to ensure that homegrown initiatives and strategies are deployed to make a success of the campaign geared towards better motoring in the coming weeks.

Oko revealed that the strategies to be implemented to see that the alertness on the part of road users is assured and lives protected till 2020 and beyond include; massive and robust public engagement, passenger advocacy, media programme, route lining of critical crash points , going outside duty calls by erecting warning signs on the portion of the roads that are bad.

Other are enhanced collaboration with other security and disaster management agencies like EDSTMA, FERMA, NEMA, standby rescue teams, tow trucks for the removal of all manners of obstructions to beef up enforcement on traffic offence bearing more directly to crashes; to see that the alertness on the part of road users is assured and lives protected till 2020 and beyond.

Also speaking, the Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki said that his administration is focused on the welfare of the people, adding that they will do everything possible to ensure roads are motorable.

Obaseki who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Infrastructure, Ferguson Enabulele urged the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) to assist in admonishing drivers to be conscious while driving.