United Nations Global Road Safety Week, 2019 was concluded on Monday, the 6th. During the closing event to the week-long spate of activities, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) disclosed that Road Traffic Injuries (RTI) , is a major contributor to the death toll of children and young people from the age of five to 29.
This was in a statement made by the Sector Commander, FRSC, Dr. Godwin Omiko, Gombe, in Gombe State. He said that in spite of the safety measures carried out by so many countries globally, recent studies pinpoint road traffic injuries as the number one cause of death of children from 5-29. He went on to describe he situation as unacceptable as children are not supposed to pay the ultimate price for a driver’s carelessness.
Children are a precious gift and a nation's wealth. Protecting them is key
Mr. Omko made it known that every road user, irrespective of status and whether parents, students, employers, or legislators, should strive to uphold good road usage principles. They are also to endeavor to be proponents of road safety by practicing procedures that make the road safe for children.
Speaking of the FRSC’s role in Gombe state, Omiko said that the agency has been persistently reminding individuals, groups and government to take the right critical action against road traffic crashes. He gave the statistics of road users, who have been victims of tragic road accidents in the state:
“In 2018, last quarter reports of road traffic crashes showed that 71 crashes were reported, involving 96 vehicles, killing 30 persons while 218 were injured.”
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He also added that similarly to this record, the first quarter of the 2019 has witnessed total road events of 57 crashes which involved 91 vehicles, killing 30 persons while 245 persons were injured. Included in this number are not only men and women but also children as a result of bad road usage and practice.
The FRSC is proactive about ensuring the safety of lives on the roads
The 2019 United Nations Global Road Safety Week program conducted by the FRSC is a week-long event annually. Other events which featured and took place during this event was a road show, a motor park rally, and a visit to the Gombe State House of Assembly. In closing the event, there was the Juma’at service on the Friday of that week while the Church service took place on Sunday.
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