AWKA – The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has said that there is a 60 per cent reduction in deaths resulting from crashes in Anambra between January and July compared to 2015.
The Sector Commander of the FRSC in the state, Corps Commander Sunday Ajayi, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Wednesday.
Ajayi said those killed on road crashes within the period were 42 as against 110 in the corresponding period in 2015 from a total of 114 and 150 crashes in the respective year.
He said 28 of those crashes were fatal; 56 serious, while 24 of them were minor.
The sector commander said the number of people injured increased by 20 per cent to 392 in 2016 from 314 in 2015 during the period under review.
He attributed the reduction in crashes to increased awareness and presence on the roads as well as higher consciousness of motorists about issues of safety on the road.
He also said that the decrease in deaths and increases in those injured from the crashes were as a result of more efficient rescue system in the command.
Ajayi said six convictions were secured from 57 arrests in 2016 as against 57 convictions from 1,967 arrests during the same period the previous year.
He attributed the low Mobile Court activities to the judiciary workers strike in the state.
“From what you have seen between January and July, there is significant improvement on the safety situation on our roads in Anambra this year as compared to 2015.
“Crashes reduced, deaths reduced, and the number of those injured increased that is to show that our rescue operations is more timely and efficient and awareness is now high.
“On our Mobile Court not much was achieved because the judiciary workers strike here ended just around June,” he said.
Ajayi urged motorists to cooperate with the FRSC to ensure safety on the roads by adhering to simple traffic rules.