Twenty-four people were killed and 220 injured in 48 accidents between January and June, the Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Gombe State Sector Command, Mr. Ayobami Omiyale, has said.
He said the figures represented 32 per cent reduction in crash rate and 21 per cent reduction in the number of deaths, compared to last year’s 71 accidents, 279 injuries and 44 deaths.
Omiyale said the reduction were as a result of many variables, which included influx of people, increasing number of vehicles and probably more money in circulation, among others.
The commander, who spoke on the command’s preparedness for the Eid-il-Fitr, said FRSC had put in place a special patrol for the period code-named ‘Operation Eid-il-Fitr’.
He said the operation began yesterday and among others would focus on dangerous driving, over-speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol, overloading, underage driving, driving without seat belt, driving with forged documents and driving mechanically-deficient vehicles.
Omiyale said breathalysers would be used to test motorists to detect those driving under the influence of alcohol, and radar guns would be used to detect over-speeding.
According to him, the command would deploy 510 personnel comprising 60 special marshals and 450 officials made up of 120 officers and 330 marshals in the operation.
The commander said the command was expecting the government to donate patrol vehicles to facilitate their activities.
He urged drivers to ensure that their vehicles were in good condition.
Omiyale enjoined motorists and motorcyclists to be their brother’s keepers by ensuring the safety for those who might be at the risk of accidents.
He said motorists should eschew things that could result in crashes.