The Unit Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Hawan Kibo, Assistant Corps Commander, Charles Badoohleng has said that 10 persons perished in 37 road crashes involving 52 vehicles in 2017 Ember months in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
He said 4 persons have perished in 12 traffic accidents with 16 vehicles, involving 42 persons at the Hawan Kibo Unit between September and October 2018.
Badoohleng disclosed this on Thursday at the 2018 Ember Month Campaign flag-off at Hawan Kibo Unit in Riyom LGA, saying Ember months’ crashes are not caused by spirit and demons but dangerous driving.
“In 2017 Ember months, the command recorded thirty-seven (37) road traffic crashes involving fifty-two (52) vehicles with two hundred and seventy -seven (277) people involved.
“One hundred and thirty-three (133) people were injured, ten (10) killed, but this year from September till date the command has recorded twelve (12) road traffic crashes with sixteen vehicles involved and forty-two (42) people involved seventeen (17) injured and four (4) killed.”
He said the Unit Command has embarked on Market/Motor Parks rallies, public enlightenment in churches and Mosques, early morning safety cry at motor parks and crash-prone area community training on first aid to avert crashes and save lives.
“The Ember months, are the last months of the year which are associated with crashes belief to be caused by spirits and demons.
“The reality on ground is that these months heralding the end of the year always witness increase in vehicular movements of human and goods from one place to another, tied up with human misconducts and breakdown of laws.
“These include such unwholesome practices as dangerous driving, overloading, use of phone while driving, lane discipline, wrongful overtaking, and over speeding etc this, in turn, results in corresponding incidences of crashes during this season.
“The resolve of the Corps as of today is to use the media and all public enlightenment platforms to dispel the erroneous belief and to proffer a way forward for the reduction of road traffic crashes and where possible the elimination of crashes through its campaign.
“The Corps is going to be strict on its conduct of visual acuity test to make sure all drivers on the roads do not have defective eyesight and the responsibility equally falls on other traffic agencies to collaborate with FRSC to achieve this.”
He said the operation cobra which was initiated to curb specific offences such as Light Violation, Drunk Driving, Dangerous Driving, Use of phone while Driving, and Route Violation will be enforced to avert road crashes.
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