Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Ibrahim Ramalan
Published on 2024-03-04 20:36:47
The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, is taking a proactive stance in ensuring road safety by cracking down on overloading of vehicles and night trips. The Corps Marshal, Dauda Ali-Biu, has instructed commanding officers to intensify enforcement efforts nationwide and educate stakeholders about the dangers associated with these practices. This directive comes in response to two tragic crashes that occurred recently, resulting in the loss of 17 lives.
One of the crashes took place at Tashar Yari village along the Zaria-Kano Expressway in Kaduna State, while the other occurred near the Fire Service Academy along the Yangoji-Gwagwalada expressway in the FCT. The tragic events underscore the urgent need for the FRSC to target drivers who engage in speeding, overloading, and night trips.
In the Tashan Yari village crash, a trailer overloaded with grains and carrying 40 passengers on top of the goods crashed at 07:36 am. The trailer, with registration number KTG 454 ZZ, was on a night trip from Azare when the accident happened due to wrong overtaking, driving above the legal speed limit, and overloading. Twelve people lost their lives in this incident, while 28 others sustained injuries of varying degrees and were taken to Makarfi General Hospital for treatment.
The second crash on the Yangoji-Gwagwalada expressway occurred at around 04:35 am when a speeding J5 bus on a night trip collided with a stationary trailer, causing the bus to burst into flames. Tragically, five victims were burnt beyond recognition. Ali-Biu expressed his concern over the high number of road crashes resulting from night trips, overloading, and reckless disregard for speed limits. He highlighted the risks associated with night trips, such as poor visibility, driver fatigue, speeding, and delayed emergency response.
To tackle this ongoing issue, Ali-Biu has instructed commanding officers to ramp up enforcement efforts, engage with stakeholders, and conduct advocacy campaigns to promote road safety. In a separate development, the Corps Marshal decorated Muhammed Kabo, the newly appointed Deputy Corps Marshal representing the North East, along with six Assistant Corps Marshals who were promoted in the recent 2023 exercise.
The FRSC is committed to ensuring the safety of road users and reducing the number of preventable accidents caused by negligence and non-compliance with road safety regulations. By enforcing stricter measures against overloading, speeding, and night trips, the FRSC aims to create a safer and more secure road environment for all Nigerians. Road safety is a shared responsibility, and everyone must play their part in promoting safe and responsible driving practices.
Read the original article on DailyNigerian.com
