FRSC BEMOANS ROAD TRAFFIC CRASHES AMONG CELEBRITIES, YOUTHS; URGES SAFETY TIPS, TACT BEHIND THE WHEELS
By Oki Samson, Trek Africa Newspaper
Though unfortunate, road accidents have become a normal and recurring incident in the country. Hardly does a day go by without the news of a road traffic crash resulting in loss of lives and/or permanent disability. Lamenting this preventable sordid tales, Nigeria’s foremost traffic agency, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) urged Nigerians, especially the young population, to pay careful attention to their safety on the roads.
According to the World Organization global status on road safety statistics, each year approximately 1.25 million people are killed on world roads and more millions bear injuries, with suffering of long hospital stay or live with permanent disabilities. Massive young potential is being destroyed including poor, between the age of 15-44 years, and most often breadwinners in their family.
Data gathered by National Association of Online Security News Publishers, NAOSNP from the Federal Road Safety Corps and the National Bureau of Statistics showed that between 2013 and 2020, at least 41,709 persons have lost their lives to road crashes in Nigeria. In all of these crashes, the prevalent causes are speeding and tyre burst, the increased number of road crashes is a result of some drivers’ attitude and lack of caution to safety and driving rules.
NAOSNP can report that some Nigerian celebrities who have been involved in fatal road traffic crashes include popular rapper, Dagrin whose unfortunate incident happened on 14th April 2010;
Nigerian reality tv star, Patrick Fakoy popularly known as Rico Swavey who died on Thursday, October 13, 2022 in a car accident; musician MC Loph who died on his way to the village in 2011; Yoruba movie actor, Ahmed Ishola Durojaiye, popularly known as Alasari who died on March 20, 2011 at Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, where he was being treated following a ghastly accident he was involved in along the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway; and fast-rising Nigerian comedian, Chijioke John popularly known as CD John who was pronounced dead on March 24, 2011 at St. Nicholas Hospital, Lagos after a fatal car crash.
Some celebrities were lucky to escape the cold hands of death after been involved in road traffic crashes. They include famous musician, Yinka Ayefele who was involved in an accident on December 12, 1997 but the injury made him lose the ability to use his legs; Nigerian actress, film director, and model, Stephanie Okereke-Linus was involved in a serious car accident that left her with burns all over and a broken leg on her way to the African Movie Academy Awards held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State in April 2005; popular actor and former Delta state Commissioner, Richard Mofe Damijo survived a ghastly car accident in Warri, Delta state; and Yul Edochie who survived an accident at Ore with a few cuts and bruises.
Worried about this litany of celebrities and countless other youths who are not known, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) is calling on Nigerians across the country to pay high premium on their road safety. The traffic agency noted that road crashes can be prevented, thus it urged governmental collaboration with stakeholders across multiple sectors including transport, police, health, and education to address this problem in a holistic manner. Documented actions can be taken such as strict legislative actions against noncompliance of seat belt and helmet users; launching public awareness campaigns through social media on use of mobile phones while driving, and routine medical checkups and screening for the exclusion of morbidity should be a strict legislation for drivers at national level.
Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) also informed Nigerian youths to follow 10 cautionary tips in order to reduce the risk of road traffic crashes. They are ‘avoid alcohol and drugs before driving; stay away from distractions, such as, using your phone, chatting with passengers, eating and so on; pay attention to the road, your driving, and other road users; and never assume to know what the intentions of other drivers.’
Other tips that NAOSNP gathered from FRSC include: ‘always indicate before you turn or change lanes; never drive without your seatbelts, make sure other passengers buckle up too; obey all traffic rules and regulations; do not go beyond the speed limit; always be cautious and patient; and use your headlights, when you should’.
The foremost traffic agency concluded that road traffic crashes are predictable and preventable. For the growing problem to be combatted, there is a strong need for close coordination and collaboration using an integrated and holistic approach across all sectors and disciplines of state. The agency also affirmed that every individual should take responsibility to follow the rules and work for behavioral change at community level.
