FCT: FRSC records 393 accidents between Jan, March

The FRSC recorded 393 road traffic accidents involving 2,051 people in the FCT between January and March, the FCT Sector Commander, Mrs. Susan Ajenge, said on Tuesday in Abuja.

Ajenge told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that 96 persons died in the accidents while 618 others sustained various degrees of injury and 2,003 motorists arrested for 2,113 various traffic offences.

She said that seat belt violation topped the offences with 1,183 bookings, adding that the command had introduced “Good Morning Abuja” as campaign to encourage the use of seat belt by motorists.

“The innovation, `Good Morning Abuja’ is a good morning patrol, first thing in the morning, that is why we call it good morning, the people we are apprehending, we say good morning to them.

“It’s informed by the fact that we noticed that a lot of inhabitants of Abuja do not use seat belt: they are either not using seat belt or they are using their phone and these two issues are dangerous.

“Because the roads are good, they are carried away; and drive without concentration and some of them will tell you they forgot to use their seat belt.

“The operation good morning is to create awareness that even if you are in a hurry to go to work, it is necessary for you to put on your belt before driving out of your house so as to protect yourself and other road users.’’

Ajenge described the Nyanya-Abuja expressway as one of the most challenging in terms of road traffic management in the territory.

She, however, said that personnel and equipment from other unit commands in the FCT had been drafted to the route for a special patrol known as “Sanity’’, to address the challenge.

“For instance, the Nyanya/Mararaba axis, most of this traffic jam is caused by wrong parking, people stopping to pick passengers on the road, etc. ’’

Ajenge appealed to motorists in the territory to respect traffic rules and the rights of other road users to ensure free flow traffic at all times. (NAN)