The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says it recorded a substantial reduction of 22 per cent in the total number of road traffic crashes (RTC), injuries and fatalities as well between January and September 2023.
The agency said it also recorded decrease in road traffic injuries and 23.1 per cent reduction in road traffic deaths when compared with the same period in 2022.
According to FRSC road traffic crash dashboard, within the period under consideration, the Corps recorded a total of 7,830 road traffic crashes as against 10,039 in the same period in the year 2022, representing 22 per cent decrease.
Assistant Corps Marshal, Corps Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem, in a statement issued on Monday noted that from January to September 2023, the Corps also achieved 21.3 per cent reduction in number of people rescued with injuries, having rescued a total of 22,580 in 2023 against 28,698 injured victims from January to September of the year 2022.
On the number of people killed, the Corps also recorded significant reduction within the operational period.
The report further revealed that in the first nine months of the year 2023, the Corps recorded a total of 3730 fatalities as against 4848 in the same period in 2022, representing 23.1% reduction.
Kazeem said it was expedient to inform the public that the highest achievement was recorded in the third quarter 2023 (July to September).
He said that in the 3rd quarter, the Corps reduced RTCs by 37.6 per cent having reduced crashes from 3412 in 2022 to 2130 in 2023.
He added: “Road traffic injuries were also reduced from 9258 in 2022 to 5864 in 2023 representing 36.7 per cent reduction, while road traffic deaths were also reduced from 1,470 in 2022 to 880 in 2023, representing 40 per cent reduction in number of people killed.
“On this note, it is pertinent to state that this significant decrease was achieved due to enhanced visibility on the highways, aggressive public education, broadened and expanded Command structures, injection of more patrol, rescue and recovery vehicles into the operations of the Corps for prompt rescue services and speedy removal of obstructions, and of course, deployment of men and logistics to areas hitherto uncovered.
“The Corps Marshal, Dauda Ali Biu wishes to leverage on this opportunity to inform the public that the present administration of the Corps has unequivocally resolved not to rest on its oars in ensuring steady reduction in crashes, injuries and fatalities on Nigerian roads.”