The Federal Road Safety Corps, Anambra State Sector Command, has revealed that no fewer than 37 lives have been lost in the state as a result of road crashes between May to November, 2021.
Addressing journalists in Awka on Friday, the Corps Commander, Adeoye Irelewuyi, said the command also recorded 110 road traffic crashes with a total of 239 injuries within the period.
Irelewuyi pointed out that the road crashes were avoidable if motorists had applied caution and compliance to traffic rules.
According to him, some other factors causing road crashes include bad roads, recklessness, over-speeding, overloading and disobedience to traffic rules.
He assured the public of the command’s commitment to tackle road crashes and congestion in the state through effective collaboration with relevant agencies with a view to ensuring a hitch free festive season.
Irelewuyi noted that because Anambra was the gateway to the South-East, traffic was expected to increase in the state by as high as 30 per cent this Yuletide.
He explained that the command had extended its operational hours, especially in urban areas, to ensure free flow of traffic at night times while security agencies would be on ground to provide protection for traffic managers during their operation.
He said, “For the past seven months of my assumption of duty here, the command had grappled with several challenges which hindered our operations.
“Therefore, we have outlined our key operational strategies which include palliative repairs on major failed portions/potholes, sensitisation and advocacy, synergy with other agencies and swift response.
“Some critical flashpoints have been identified and these are Onitsha-Metro, Onitsha-Owerri, Ihiala, Umunze, Awka metro, Amansea, Oye-agu junction/Abagana, Nnobi junction and Eke Awka.”
He added that the corps would be test running the use of body cameras on its personnel during the special patrol exercise in order to curb assault and corruption cases either against motorists or officials.
