Easter/Eid-el-Fitr: FRSC Records Massive Reduction in Road Crashes.

…decries rising cases of crashes due to traffic violations

…harps on more punitive measures for recalcitrant drivers

By Nkechi Eze

As part of its commitment and its continuous strive to make the nation’s highways safe, the Federal Road Safety has announced a massive reduction in road crashes, fatalities and injuries during the 2024 Easter and Eid-el-Fitr special patrol operations.

The Corps Marshal, Dauda Ali Biu who reeled out the outcome of the special patrol operations, noted that the corps recorded a 42% decrease during the Easter patrol. “62 road traffic crashes were recorded, this is against 107 in the same period of 2023, representing a 42% decrease. These crashes involved 417 people in 2024, in contrast to 705 in the previous year, also indicating a significant reduction of 40.9%. The analysis also shows that of the aforementioned crashes, the Corps also recorded a reduction in fatalities as 33 victims were killed in 2024 against 81 killed in the same period in 2023.This represents a 59.3% reduction” he said.

With regards to its rescue operations, Biu noted that the Corps has been very decisive in her rescue operations. According to him, 195 people were rescued without injuries in 2024 against 345 in the previous year, which represents a drop of 43.4% in number of people injured, while 189 people got rescued without injury in 2024, a total of 279 people were rescued without injury in 2023, representing 32.3% reduction.

Speaking on traffic offenders who were apprehended, Biu said that “a total of 4916 offenders were apprehended during the 2024 special patrol. This is in contrast to the 7110 recorded in 2023 representing 30.9% decrease. The Corps also has a record of 4319 offences during the 2024 outing, against a total of 8220 in 2023 indicating 47.5% decrease”

In similar vein, the corps also recorded a significant reduction in the number of traffic offenders apprehended and offences committed during the Eid-el-Fitr celebration.  According to the corps marshal, “In 2023, the Corps recorded 127 road traffic crashes, this number was reduced in 2024 to 73 representing 42.5% reduction, while the total number of people killed in 2023 was 59, people killed in the same period in 2024 reduced to 28, signifying a drop of 52.5%. 

In 2023, a total of 772 people were involved in afore stated crashes, while 466 got involved in 2024 representing 39.6% reduction.

on injuries, a total of 334 people rescued with injuries in 2023, as against 225 recorded in 2024 representing 32.6% decrease; while in 2023, 379 victims were rescued without injuries,  in 2024, the figure reduced to 213, representing 43.8% reduction”.

While speaking on offenders and offences, corps marshal Biu noted that “the Corps arrested 5,629 offenders in 2023. This figure reduced in 2024 to 4815 signifying a drop of 14.5%. The offenders committed 6,654 offences in 2023 while in the same period of 2024 they committed 5,721 representing 14% decrease”.

According to Biu, the success of the special patrol is accredited to combined efforts and high level of partnership between the Federal Road Safety Corps, leadership of the various Transport Unions, Security Agencies, State Traffic Management Agencies and the media included.

While commending the resilience and doggedness of FRSC personnel, he also accentuated the need for collective participation and collaboration for the corps to achieve its mandate.

“Notable amongst these fruitful collaborations which preceded both the Easter and Eid-El-Fitr special patrol is the flag-off of the Inter-Agency Joint Task Force to enforce compliance against use of trailers to convey passengers as well as mitigate road traffic crashes, fatalities and injuries emanating from the lawlessness of trailer drivers. These JTF operating in Niger, Bauchi, Taraba and Kaduna States has successfully arrested a total of 222 trailers loaded with 3169 passengers hanging on top of goods and animals.  As part of the operations, the JTF dropped over 2440 passengers who were mandated to take alternative vehicles designed for conveying passengers”.

The Corps Marshal also decried the rising cases of crashes due to traffic violations, and urged passengers to begin to speak to the conscience of drivers, to enable them wake up to their responsibilities and drive with maximum safety compliance.

 “The Corps is already deepening ongoing collaboration with the judiciary across the 36 states of the federation for speedy trial of drivers involved in road traffic crashes” he said.