According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Gombe saw 1,180 injuries and 99 fatalities from vehicle accidents in 2023.
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This was revealed on Monday at the Lafiyawo community, Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State, to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, by Mr. Felix Theman, the state’s Sector Commander.
He claimed that during that time, there were 329 registered car crashes in the state that involved 482 automobiles and 2,143 persons, 864 of whom were unharmed.
Based on a comparison of 2023 vehicle crash statistics with 2022 figures, Theman reported a 10% decrease in the number of fatalities.
In addition, he mentioned that the state’s record number of car crashes had decreased by 9.9%.
In all, 365 crashes involving 1,802 people and 572 vehicles occurred in 2022, he added, with 1,074 people injured, 110 people died, and 618 people walking away unharmed.
According to his explanation, 50% of the potential causes of the crashes were attributed to irresponsible overtaking.
Among the problems he mentioned were truck and other interstate bus drivers’ weariness, speeding, overloading, tyre bursts, poor night vision, and other factors.
He claimed that the deployment of patrol and surveillance teams, along with the raising of awareness about safe driving practices, had contributed to the decline in the number of fatalities during the Ember months campaign in 2023.
“We reported 143 crashes during the Ember Months, which took place in September and December 2023, resulting in 31 fatalities and 567 injuries.
During the same time period in 2022, there were 401 injuries, 48 fatalities, and 127 collisions.
“These figures indicate a 12.6 percent rise in collisions and a 35.4 percent drop in the number of fatalities,” he stated.
According to the sector commander, in order to save more accident victims in the state in 2024, increased efforts will be made to ensure prompt response.
He counselled state drivers to refrain from rushing when driving in 2024 and to use greater caution.
The sector commander also advised interstate bus and truck drivers to get plenty of sleep before travel.
He said that by working with the appropriate ministries and agencies in Gombe State, the command was able to lower the number of fatal car crashes in the year under review.
Theman stated that by working with the judiciary to enhance mobile courts that handled traffic offences in the state, the FRSC had developed plans to ensure adherence to road safety laws and regulations in 2024.
