Adebayo Adenrele
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ekiti State Command has raised an alarm over dangerous driving by drivers, with a charge to passengers to always speak up against the act while on transit.
The State Sector Commander, Joseph Olusola said this on Monday in Ado-Ekiti, at a press conference to flag off the Commemoration of 2024 Road Traffic Crash (RTC) Victim’s Remembrance Week organized by the Corps.
Olusola revealed that statistics showed that more passengers are killed in road traffic crashes than drivers, hence the need for commuters to take up the responsibility by speaking up against reckless driving.
He said the RTC remembrance week with the theme ‘That Day’ is aimed at telling the stories of that day when traffic collision stopped or changed the course of the victims lives.
The Commander added that the annual remembrance of RTC Victim was initiated by the Resolutions of the Africa Union Executive Council Ex.Cl./Dec. 682 (XX) of January 2012 and the United Nations Resolution A/60/5 of 26 Oct. 2005.
Olusola said the FRSC in Ekiti State has been working tirelessly on measures to reduce road accidents to the barest minimum level while calling on government and relevant authorities to improve vehicular safety through adoption of Safe System Approach.
His words: “We intend moving to different areas where we can meet with the passengers especially at the motor parks, markets, worship places, opinion leaders, traditional leaders so that they will be able to know their rights and speak up when they see them driving dangerously.
“Ekiti State recorded a total of 13 deaths in 64 road traffic crash cases, with 164 injured persons between January and September this year, giving a reduction of 63% death and 18% RTC cases in 2024.
“The objectives of year 2024 World Day of Remembrance for RTCs victims are to provide a platform for road traffic victims and their families to remember all people killed and seriously injured on the roads.
“Acknowledge the crucial work of the emergency services, draw attention to the general trivial legal response to culpable road deaths and injuries and advocate for an appropriately serious response etc.
“I wish to assure members of the public that FRSC will continue to work with all stakeholders to pursue public enlightenment programs and aggressive enforcement of traffic rules and regulations to serve as deterrence to traffic offenders.”