A report published by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that a total of 2,927 males involved in road traffic crashes in the fourth quarter of 2020 and the second quarter of 2021 died in the process.
The Bureau made the disclosure in a publication on its official website, which provided statistics on road accidents in the last quarter of 2020 and the first two quarters of 2021.
According to the NBS, in the fourth quarter of 2020, road crashes rose to 3,313 from 3,066 in the previous quarter, which it said represents a growth rate of 8.06 per cent.
It noted that growth declined to -0.36 per cent in the first quarter of 2021 when total road crashes stood at 3,301 and further declined by 3.51 per cent, recording 3,185 in the second quarter of 2021.
According to the NBS, the observed trend was a clear indication of improved road safety, adding that in each of the quarters under review, serious cases of road crashes stood top, compared to fatal and minor cases observed.
The Bureau noted that the development calls for strengthening of the nation’s road safety agencies and medical response team.
Looking at the sex distribution of persons killed in road accidents, the Bureau said 1,474 males were killed in the fourth quarter of 2020, accounting for 81.08 per cent of 1.818 persons killed in total. This declined considerably to 1,318 in the first quarter of 2021, representing 79.02 per cent of the 1,668 killed.
The NBS, however, said more males died in road accidents in the second quarter of 2021 with 84.65 per cent of 1,453 killed compared to 79.02 per cent in the preceding quarter.
Nevertheless, the trend of deaths in total showed a downward movement over the period.
The Bureau added: “Similarly, more males were injured over the three quarters under review. In the fourth quarter of 2020, 7,370 males were injured, accounting for 75.96 per cent of 9,702 injuries recorded.
“Although the number of persons injured increased to 10,057 in the first quarter of 2021, the share of males to females was 75.07 per cent (7,550). The number of persons injured fell to 9,018 in the second quarter of 2021 with 7,059 males, representing 78.28 per cent.
“In the fourth quarter of 2020, 5,230 vehicles were involved in road traffic crashes compared to 4,893 in the preceding quarter, a growth rate of 6.89 per cent. This decreased to 5,193 vehicles in the first quarter of 2021, representing a growth rate of -071 per cent and further decreased by 1.14 per cent to 5,134 vehicles in the second quarter of 2021.
“Over the last three quarters under review, commercial vehicles were most affected in road crashes averaging 64.92 per cent of the total vehicles involved.
“The zonal distribution in the fourth quarter of 2020 revealed that the North-Central recoded the most crashes at 968, followed by the South-West region at 800. In terms of casualties, the North-West had the most at 3,380, followed by the North-Central region.
“Similarly, the North-Central recorded the highest cases of road crashes in the first quarter of 2021 at 905, followed by the South-West region at 877.
In terms of casualties in the quarter, the North-West had the most at 3,143, followed by the North-Central region. However, in the second quarter of 2021, the North-Central yet again recorded the highest cases of crashes at 1,015, followed by the South-West region at 876. This accounted for 3,006 casualties in the North Central, the highest recorded.”
