By Correspondent in Ilorin.
Kwara state recorded 72 road accident and lost 86 lives in such unfortunate developmnt between September and October 2021, according to state Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Jonathan Owoade.
Owoade,who disclosed this on Monday while speaking with journalists in Ilorin on the sideline of events commemorating road traffic crash victims’ day, identified impatience, wrongful overtaking, night driving, use of phones while driving and over speeding as the causes of major accidents on Kwara roads.
“Wrong attitude and bad orientation among motoring public have accounted for major causes of road crashes in the country,” he said.
The Sector Commander,who noted that Nigerians used to comply and obey traffic rules and regulations outside the country, disobeyed traffic laws that discourage carnage and encourage road safety on Nigerian roads.
“Crashes do not happen on their own, they are caused by our wrong attitude and wrong perception among drivers, most of the time. People should give right of way,even when another driver has taken wrong way. Two wrongs don’t make a right. Most people who claim right are in grave yards.
“However, the enforcement of right attitude is made difficult by some offenders who say I have a super brother. I’m connected. That attitude informed wrong attitude to traffic rules among some drivers in the country.
“If people are made to face the wrath of the law, accidents would be reduced. Like when you arrest some offenders, you will then be receiving calls from high places and prominent personalities seeking assistance. That is not encouraging,” added.
He said that the Sector Command encouraged people to reduce speed to 30 kilometres per hour in build up areas and in the town to avoid knock down and ensure proper traffic management in commemoration of the event.
“We have had occasions where people knocked down school children, cyclists etc. It’s easier and safer to manoeuvre vehicles to a stop when on low speed.
“We should plan our journey ahead of time and not be in a hurry because one may not expect what could confront one on the journey. Those who are in hurry either land in hospital and become vegetable thereafter or no more. We should take life easy. Easy does it”, he advised.
The sector commander also advised commercial vehicle drivers to ensure lane discipline by being on service lane and not spreading across the road way, saying that the habit usually cause road accident as oncoming vehicles might not be able to apply brake to avoid collision.
He also advised motoring public to discourage driving against one-way, calling on the state government to block opening in front of the NNPC filling station on Asa Dam road, Ilorin, where he said drivers were in the habit of driving against one-way.
He also said that the weeklong celebration would be marked by presentation of gifts to victims of crashes, interdenominational church and mosque prayer service, among others.
