Gombe records 84 deaths in 349 crashes- FRSC
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Gombe State command said at least 84 persons died in 349 road crashes in the state from January till date.
The Sector Commander, Mr Ishaku Ibrahim, said this at a news conference held on Wednesday by FRSC in Lafiyawo Community in Akko Local Government Area of the state.
Our correspondent reports that the news conference was part of the activities lined up by the command to mark the African Road Safety Day and World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Crash victims.
The theme for this year’s commemoration is: “Act for Low Speed/Act for Low Speed Street with slogan: Remember Support Act.”
Ibrahim said that within the period under review, 1,548 persons were involved in various crashes, 939 others sustained various degrees of injuries, while 525 were unhurt.
Giving further analysis of the crashes, the sector commander said in the first quarter of 2021, 102 crashes were recorded, 501 persons were involved with 298 injured, 32 persons died while 171 went home unhurt.
“In the second quarter, 128 crashes were recorded, 553 persons involved with 319 injured, 32 died while 202 were unhurt.
“During the third quarter, 97 crashes were recorded, 403 persons involved with 269 persons sustaining various degree of injuries, 16 died while 118 were unhurt,” he said.
He attributed the drop in the number of crashes in the third quarter to the proactive measures taken by the command in terms of intensive sensitisation to create awareness on the need for safety.
He stated that most of the crashes that occurred with high fatalities were those that occurred during the night.
“During the night, when there are road crashes, the speed in which assistance come or rescue is done is very slow and by so doing casualties are high,” he stated.
He charged residents and motorists to jettison night journeys in the interest of their safety especially going into Christmas celebration.
The road safety officer said analysis of the crashes in Gombe during the period under review showed that the major causes of crashes in the state were speed, use of phones while driving.
“Others are route violation, mechanically defective vehicles on roads, defective lightening system and stress’’.
He stated that during this year’s commemoration, the command would intensify public enlightenment while visiting victims of road traffic crashes to make donations as well as pray for them and advise them too.
Ibrahim, however, warned that any motorist involved in drunk driving and speed limit violations would not be spared.
He commended the Gombe state Government for prioritising road construction and installing adequate solar lightening system on roads, adding that such had helped reduce the number of crashes.
