The Federal Road Safety Corps, Kogi State Sector Command, has said that there was a 14 per cent reduction in the death toll from road crashes in the state in 2023.
The FRSC, however, said that it recorded 58 auto crashes in which 28 persons died during the 2023 yuletide.
The sector commander, Samuel Oyediji, disclosed this to journalists on Friday, in Lokoja, the state capital.
Oyedeji said that the casualty figure was a 14 per cent decrease, compared to, the 2022/2023 period, adding that there was, however, an increase in RTCs from 50 to 58.
He explained that the considerable reduction in the number of persons killed in the road traffic crashes was due to a series of measures put in place by the command during the ‘Operation Zero Tolerance’ of the corps.
”Again, despite the high vehicular movement within the state, there was no serious gridlock encountered throughout the period.
“This was also possible through the help of personnel (regular and special marshals) and other security agencies, who helped in the control of traffic at all the critical points identified in the state to ensure the free flow of traffic
“It is the command’s wish that things get better day by day through strict compliance with traffic rules and regulations by the motorists plying the highways,” he said.
The sector commander added that having rounded off the exercise, the command would not relent in putting in place all corrective measures to curb the motorist’s excesses to ensure the reduction of RTCs on roads in Kogi.
According to him, road safety is a collective responsibility and motorists are advised to continue always to obey traffic rules and regulations.
He also advised motorists to always exercise patience and show a high level of tolerance and consideration for other road users, to ensure a crash-free environment throughout the year.
He, however, appreciated the general motoring public and the entire populace in Kogi for their cooperation and support, resulting in a successful and seamless conduct of the 2023 end-of-the-year special patrol.
The command on Dec. 15, 2023, deployed 800 personnel, 25 patrol vehicles, three ambulances, one heavy-duty tow truck, patrollers and other operational equipment for the special exercise that ended on Jan. 18.
