By Oluwatosin Maliki
In a recent report, the Federal Road Safety Corps, announced that it recorded a total of 97 road crashes in Anambra, which involved 820 persons, claimed 35 lives and injured 270 persons in the past 11 months, starting from January to November 2023.
This was disclosed by Adeoye Irelewuyi, the Sector Commander, FRSC, in Anambra state, who gave the statistics at an end-of-the-year media parley and award ceremony on Saturday in Awka.
The commander noted that the statistics showed significant improvement and reduction when compared to the records of 2022.
Furthermore, he attributed the development to propagation of road safety information by the media.
The statement read, “Looking at our activities from January to Nov.30, we recorded 97 road crashes which involved 820 persons, 25 of the crashes were fatal, claiming the lives of 35 persons and 270 persons injured”.
“There is a significant reduction when compared with the 2022 record where we recorded 132 road crashes involving 1,048 persons, 42 of which were fatal, claiming the lives of 64 persons and injuring 306 others”.
“We also arrested 1,953 offenders in 2,119 offences and impounded 332 vehicles. This also shows an improvement on the 2022 figures when we recorded 1,381 offenders arrested from 1,493 offences and impounded 382 vehicles,” he said.
In a bid to reduce road crashes, Irelewuyi stated that the Corps would commence ‘Operation Zero Tolerance to Road Traffic Crash’ from Dec. 15 to Jan 15, 2024.
According to him, this is to ensure a free flow of traffic during the Yuletide period.
He further explained that 1,000 personnel, including regular and special marshals, would be deployed to various parts of the state, so as to ensure robust traffic management, enforcement and control.
Also, he noted that the agency would collaborate with sister agencies to carry out the operation in partnership with the media, the Federal Ministry of Works, Anambra State Ministry of Transport and Traffic Management Agency.
He said, “We are discussing with the Federal Ministry of Works on the possibility of some emergency repairs of critical portions of the expressway along the Onitsha-Owerri road, Bridgehead and other points,”
“We received the delivery of a brand new 70-ton Tow truck (Juggernaut) from our national headquarters to ensure prompt response and removal of obstructions as well as reduce gridlock.”
“These are part of our strategies to ensure safe travels within Anambra during this season. We urge motorists to drive safely to arrive alive and to remember that only the living celebrate,” he added.