Akpan Umoh, Uyo
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Akwa Ibom Command has said no fewer than 15 persons have died while 62 were injured in different road crashes in the last 10 months.
The State Sector Commander, Mr Matthew Olonisaye, disclosed this on Thursday while briefing newsmen on the activities to mark this year’s West African Road Safety Week and World Day for Remembrance of Road Safety Victims in Uyo.
Olonisaye said that within 10 months of 2022, 28 persons were killed and 164 injured in road crashes.
He said that there has been a drastic reduction in road crashes in the state in 2023 compared to last year.
He noted that the reduction was in line with the FRSC’s mandate of reducing road crashes to 5 per cent in the state.
The sector commander said that this was the period for the FRSC to remember those people who were injured in several cases of road crashes.
“World Day for Remembrance of Road Safety Victims is a period where we remember all the people who lost their lives in road crashes and traffic crashes.
“It also avails us the opportunity to remind road users to be more careful while on the road.
“As part of the activities to mark this year’s day, we are going around the city to sensitise the public on the need to add value to their lives.
“We will visit the emergency department of hospitals in the state to identify with the victims of road crashes and try to give them hope,” Olonisaye said.
Olonisaye cautioned motorists to desist from acts capable of endangering the lives and property of road users, during the forthcoming yuletide season.
He called on drivers to always take their vehicles to Ibom Computerised Vehicle Inspection Services (IBCVIS) established by the state government to properly diagnose all mechanical faults to reduce road crashes.