By Thompson ABISOLA
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has cautioned the motoring public over reckless driving as 1,054 people were killed in auto crsahes within 33 months along the Lagos-Ogun routes.
the Zonal Commanding Officer in Charge of Ogun and Lagos States, Mr John Meheux, , made the disclosure in his remarks at the “2018 World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims’’ in Lagos.
Meheux said that the zonal records in the last two to three years show the number of people involved and killed by auto crashes in various corridors within both states.
`In 2016, we recorded 828 road traffic crashes where 444 were killed and 2,364 injured.
“In 2017, 803 crashes occurred where 331 were killed and 2106 injured and in 2018, 644 accidents recorded 279 were killed and 1993 injured.
“We must see what we can do to ameliorate the crashes on the road and reduce the death as a result of the accident,” he said.
According to him, the corps wants to see structures put in place to curb crashes and deaths on the roads.
The zonal commander also appreciated the teams, agencies and stakeholders working tirelessly with FRSC on the road to ensure safety at any point in time.
The FRSC boss said that the corps was bringing back advocacy to the front burner to ensure adequate safety and cautious driving among the commercial drivers.
” Most of the accidents are caused by attitudinal disposition which are mainly responsible for number death in auto crashes,” he added.
the FRSC Lagos State Sector Commander, Mr Hyginus Omeje, in his remarks, said that no efforts put in place to curb crashes on the road was too much.
Omeje called on stakeholders and corporate organisations to join hands with the corps in terms of resources to assist the FRSC to curb the menace of crashes on the road.
He said that FRSC was an avenue or a channel through which any organisation could exercise its corporate social responsibility to the people.
“However, we advise drivers to shun reckless driving, driving under the influence of alcohol, overloading and the use of bad tyres,’’ he said.
Kanayo Okonkwo, a Member of the Health Emergency Initiative (HEI), also advised the motoring public to drive safely and shun drunk driving habit.
Okwonkwo said that HEI is a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) established to give succour to indigent patients during emergencies , especially accident victims.
According to him, the NGO has specifically collaborated with public hospitals and others to ensure that critical accident victims are treated and stabilised before the arrival of the family.
“We have set up a “None Should Die” initiative to ensure free treatment of accident victims in some hospitals during emergency.
“As for drivers, you do not need anybody to use weapons on you before you drive safely
“We urge drivers to drive safely and ensure that passengers got to their various destinations peacefully,’’ he said.
Head of Operation, Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), Mr Joseph Anibaba, , said that accidents were main causes of death in this part of the world.
Anibaba thanked the FRSC for its efforts in giving regular awareness to motorists across the various parks in the state.
“This is 18 years of LASAMBUS operation in the state, most of the cases recorded are commercial vehicles.
“Commercial buses should make sure they comply by the rules and regulations and avoid bad portions of the road to avert accident.
“At times, the FRSC officials on the road may be there to caution the drivers on the danger ahead but some of the motorists speed off, seeing the officials on the road which later resort to crashes ahead,’’ he said.
