The Federal Road Safety Corps, on Monday, said the number of road accidents in the country reduced by 22 per cent in 2023 compared to the number of crashes in 2022.
It said a total of 5,081 people were killed in different road traffic crashes across the country in 2023.
The FRSC also said about 10,617 road traffic crashes were recorded and 31,874 injured.
The Corps Marshal FRSC, Dauda Biu, said this at a press briefing on the review of 2023 activities and Operation Zero Special Patrol of the corps.
These figures, according to Biu, represented a significant reduction in road crashes, fatalities, and injuries compared to the data recorded in 2022.
The crashes were caused by speed violations, overloading, continuous night journeys, and wrongful overtaking among others, the Corps Marshal stated.
He said, “On annual performance, from January to December 2023, the corps recorded a tremendous reduction in road crashes, fatalities, as well as injuries when compared to the data obtained in 2022.
“From January 1 to December 31, 2023, a total of 10,617 road traffic crashes were recorded across the country. This figure is against 13,656 in 2022 which represents a 22 per cent decrease.
“Also, 2023 records reveal that 5,081 people were killed against 6,456 in 2022 representing a 21 per cent reduction, while 3,1874 victims got injured in 2023, against 38,930 in the year 2022 signifying an 18.1 per cent decrease.
“Let me emphasise at this juncture that the main factors responsible for the crashes are; speed violation, overloading, driving under the influence, continuous night journey leading to fatigue, dangerous driving, wrongful overtaking, tyre burst (worn out and expired).”
The FRSC also said a total of “1,303 traffic offenders were arraigned, out of which 1,159 convicted, and 144 discharged and acquitted” during the Operation Zero Special Patrol of the Corps from December 15, 2023, to January 15, 2024.
These offenders were apprehended for committing “33,892 offences in 2023 against 25,401 in the same period in 2022 which signifies a 33 per cent increase.”
Biu added, “Between December 15, 2023, and January 15, 2024, which marked the period of the special patrol operations, a total of 634 road traffic crashes took place nationwide, as against 535 in the same period in 2022 representing 19 per cent increase. The 2023 crashes involved 4,709 people, this is against 4,162 recorded in 2022 signifying a 13 percent increase.
“Meanwhile, the total number of people injured increased by 17 per cent as the Corps has a record of 2,055 people injured in 2023 against 1,762 in the same period in 2022. Also, the Corps rescued a total of 2,319 people in 2022 signifying a 13 percent increase when compared to a total of 2050 recorded in 2022.
During the Operation, the corps deployed “a total of 7,100 Officers, 18,124 Marshals, over 8000 Special Marshals, 743 patrol vehicles, 184 administrative vehicles, 144 Power Bikes, 132 Ambulances, 23 tow trucks were mobilized and redeployed to strategic traffic corridors,” he said.
He also stated that five of its officers were knocked down by recalcitrant drivers, adding that two died in the process.
The Corps Marshal warned that the worrisome situation must be reversed in 2024 and beyond.
He said “The end of the year patrol did not go without challenges as the Corps witnessed rising cases of knockdowns as 5 of the Corps Operatives were deliberately knocked down by recalcitrant drivers in locations identified as Toro, Gashua, Sifawa, and Mando.
“Unfortunately, two out of the 5 Operatives were killed as a result of the knockdown while the remaining 3 were seriously injured.
