473 perish in road accidents in Niger in 18 months – FRSC

Between January 2022 and June 2023, a tragic toll of 473 lives was lost in road traffic crashes in Niger State, as reported by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).

The FRSC’s Niger State Sector Commander, Mr. Kumar Tsukwam, disclosed this information during an interview in Minna.

During the mentioned period, there were a total of 766 Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs) recorded in the state, involving approximately 5,272 individuals, out of which 2,607 sustained varying degrees of injuries.

The severity of the RTCs varied, with 204 being fatal, 483 categorized as serious, and 79 classified as minor incidents.

Mr. Tsukwam attributed the causes of these crashes to a combination of human errors, vehicular factors, and environmental conditions.

To address the high number of deaths resulting from RTCs in the state, the FRSC is working diligently to minimize such incidents.

In their efforts to create awareness, the FRSC focuses on sensitizing drivers, as small mistakes made by them while driving can lead to catastrophic accidents.

The FRSC conducts regular sensitization programs, including “Early Morning Cry,” which involves visiting motor-parks to educate road users, particularly commercial drivers, about the importance of adhering to traffic rules and regulations.

Compliance with traffic rules and regulations, according to Mr. Tsukwam, plays a crucial role in saving lives and preventing accidents on the roads.

The sector commander cautioned against night journeys, especially for commercial drivers, due to the poor road conditions and security challenges prevalent across the country.

The FRSC aims to respond to accident scenes within 15 minutes as part of its global framework and plan of action, focusing on five pillars: the vehicle, road mobility, driver, road user, and post-crash response.

Mr. Tsukwam urged the state government to collaborate with the FRSC in establishing more help areas to ensure prompt responses to accident scenes and save lives.