By Kunle SHONUGA
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has reaffirmed that speeding accounts for over 50 per cent of road traffic crashes in the country.
Corps Marshal, Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, stated this at an event to commemorate “2018 United Nations Decade of Action on Road Safety and Injury Prevention” in Abuja on Thursday.
The Day is celebrated annually in solidarity with victims of road traffic crashes and their families.
“The Day has become an important tool in global effort to reduce road casualties.
“It offers an opportunity for drawing attention to the scale of emotional and economic devastation caused by road traffic crashes and for giving recognition to the suffering of road crash victims.
“It is also to acknowledge the work of support and rescue services,” he said.
The Corps Marshal, who was represented by Corps Commander, Christopher Ademoluti, said the corps introduced a Speed Limiting Device to regulate the speed for commercial vehicles.
He said the enforcement of the policy would be extended to private vehicles.
Oyeyemi, however, called for show of empathy toward victims of crashes.
In his remarks, Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, said road accidents were preventable, and called on motorists to be conversant with traffic codes.
Represented by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Ebong Eyinbio, Idris urged motorists to ensure that their vehicles were roadworthy.
On his part, Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, recalled that there was a policy that accident victims should be treated immediately even without a police report.
Adewole, who was represented by Director, Hospital Services, in the ministry, Mrs Ngozika Bibilari, also called for more enlightenment on road signs.
In a goodwill message, Alhaji Suleiman Danzaki of the National Union of Road Transport Workers urged FRSC to be more consistent in its policies.
He said that there was no epidemic that consumed life more than road accidents, and called for collaboration between NURTW and FRSC to tackle the menace.
