The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has pledged to ensure a drastic reduction in the rate of road crashes in Kogi.
FRSC Kogi Sector Commander, Corp Commander, Samuel Oyedeji, gave the assurance in an interview in Lokoja on Wednesday.
Oyedeji said that his mandate as a new sector commander in the state was to reduce the rate of road crashes, especially on Abuja-Lokoja highway axis where there were a lot of trucks plying the roads.
“As a corps, we have put a lot of measures to ensure that lives are saved from avoidable road crashes in Kogi.
“We have discovered that most of the road crashes were speed-related offences by reckless motorists.
“It’s unfortunate that most vehicles in Kogi do not have speed limit devices and we are going to ensure that they do that appropriately.
“We believe that installing the devices will greatly reduce the rate of road crashes in the state.
“If there is a speed limit device in a car and there is an accident, be sure that the number of casualties will be less compared to the one without the device,” he said.
The sector commander noted that Kogi, as a gateway to the northern and southern parts of the country, witnessed a high volume of traffic on the highways, whereby the slightest mistake brought catastrophe.
He said that was why the corps planned to ensure that the highways were not just safe, but always free and not blocked, especially during festivities.
“We will ensure that our personnel are at every black spot to checkmate speed and overloading as well as road blockages by trucks and faulty vehicles on the highways during festivities,” he said.
On rapid response to accident alarms and scenes, Oyedeji said that FRSC had increased the number of unit commands to 10, aside the three Zebra stations – 9, 13 and 43, and outpost stations to eight with 10 staff across the state.
“We will also ensure that motorists obtain their number plates, driver’s licence and other vehicle particulars. You cannot drive on the highway when you do not have a licence to do that.
“Already, the corps is in collaboration with the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGSIRS) to ensure that drivers obtain their driver’s licence and vehicle particulars as expected.
“We are about to design a proposal for a special patrol in the state so that we ensure those who have not complied with these rules do so for the safety of life and property on the highways,” he said.