FRSC Records Over 262 Deaths In Ogun, Laments Motorists’ Non-Compliance To Traffic Rules

By Raymond Osho

ABEOKUTA: The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has lamented high level of road crashes on the South West corridor, regretting record of over 262 deaths between this year’s January and September in Ogun State.

The Corps equally expressed displeasure over  non-compliance to traffic rules by motorists in the State as major cause of road crashes.

In view of this, the South/West zone of the Corps convened A-Day Retreat to brainstorm on adoptable measure to combat the ugly incessant occurrence of accidents on the South/West corridor.

The Zonal Commanding Officer of the Corps, ACM Samuel A. Obayemi who spoke recently in Abeokuta, the State capital regretted that the increase in road crashes along the South/West corridor was becoming too alarming.

Obayemi, who spoke on the theme: “Road Audit And Crash Investigation: A Panacea For Traffic Compliance In Ogun State” said the crisis usually occurs on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

His words: “The increase in crisis along our corridor is becoming so alarming and worrisome and there is need to come together to brainstorm on how we can reduce it, particularly the crisis that occure on Lagos/Ibadan Expressway. We have deployed enough men to control traffic on the road to reduce crashes, but what we are getting from members of the public is not encouraging.

“On this South West corridor, a lot of drivers always disobey our men while on the road. People don’t maintain their vehicles. Once their is a little obstruction, before the arrival of our men, traffic would have increased. People also drive against traffic rules, these are the challenges we are facing and that is why we have come together as a Zone to agree on what can be done,” he added.

He continued, “We have recorded a lot of success in our fight against road crashes. Actually we know that there will be more crisis and that is what we are trying to guide against. On daily basis, we have at least 50 of our staff on Lagos/Ibandan expressway controlling traffic to avoid crashes. They are there so that if there is any crash they will promptly control traffic.”

In his words, the Sector Commander of the Corps, Clement Oludele stressed that the whole effort of the corps was to ensure a drastic reduction to road crashes in the State, saying, “Those who die everyday in road accident are those who are supposed to contribute to the national development.”

Oladele, who is the Commander in-charge of the State attributed the causes of the crisis to poor violation of traffic rules by drivers.
He said construction areas where rehabilitation of roads and other construction are ongoing are major points where the crisis often occur.

“We are concern, we noticed that most of the deaths recorded happened at construction zones, areas where constructions are taking place.”

“A life lost is a lost to the state and the country at large, so our own is to ensure that such don’t happen. Because of the increase in road accident, we are now looking at crash investigation that is for every crash there must be a reason behind it, we will investigate and look at the reasons behind it then we wait to see how we can prevent it from happening again.

“What we want to tell members of the public is that whenever there is crashes on the road, drivers should quickly corporate with our men to avoid traffic gridlocks.”