Towards the end of every year and the New Year, there are recorded increases in road accidents. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in its Road Transport Data, on a quarterly basis, road accidents killed a total of 1,668 people in Q1 2021; 1,453 in Q2; 1,432 in Q3; and 1,652 in Q4.

According to the statistics, 5,053 lives were lost in 2016 while 5,121 and 5,181 lives were lost in 2017 and 2018 respectively. In 2019 and 2020, about 5,483 and 5,574 lives were also lost respectively while 6,205 died in 2021 which accounted for the highest accident rate and loss of lives.

Specifically, in 2019, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) reported that of the total of 9,218 Road Traffic Crashes (RTC), 3,134, which is over one-third, occurred in the last quarter of the year.

Generally, records by Statist show that more than 11,800 road traffic casualties were reported in Nigeria during the fourth quarter of 2021.

And during the fourth quarter of 2021, Nigeria’s Ogun State, which houses the popular Lagos-Shagamu Expressway, registered the highest number of road traffic accidents in the country. Around 286 crashes were reported in the state, which was closely followed by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, with 280 road accidents. In contrast, the states of Bayelsa and Katsina registered the lowest road traffic crashes.

By zonal distribution, according to NBS, the North Central recorded the highest cases of road crashes during the year at 4,056, followed by the South-West region at 3,451. A breakdown of the figure showed that the North Central recorded a total of 905 cases of road crashes in Q1, followed by the South-West region at 877.

In terms of casualties in the quarter, the North West had the most at 3,143, followed by the North Central region. Similarly in Q2, the North Central recorded 1,015 crashes while the South West region recorded 876. This accounted for 3,006 casualties in the North Central, the highest recorded.

Meanwhile in Q3, North Central recorded 1,041 crashes while the South West region followed with 822. “In terms of casualties, the North Central recorded the highest which stood at 2,963, followed by the South South region with 2,237,” the NBS added.

In Q4, the North Central recorded 1,095 road crashes and 3,663 casualties. Also, during the quarter, the South West region recorded 876 road crashes.

The NBS also disclosed that in Q1 2021, 5,193 vehicles were involved in road traffic crashes.

The increase in accidents at this time of the year and the New Year is because of the surge in travels by families, individuals and groups to reunite with their loved ones and the accompanying commercial/trading activities. There are usually increased inter and intra state travels.

This results in seasonal euphoria with unlicensed or reckless drivers, some Driving Under the Influence (DUI).

Road traffic officers blame speed violations as the most frequent cause of road crashes. This was followed by sign violations and wrongful and dangerous overtaking.

Therefore, drivers should learn and practice defensive driving and master road traffic laws to ensure safety for all, including pedestrians. Also, the vehicles must be serviced ahead of each travel.

There should also be improvement in the poor state of our roads. Efforts should be made to repair the very bad portions of the roads and road safety officials should also be available to check reckless driving on the highways.

The FRSC should step up surveillance and patrols to safeguard the roads and road users. They must work to prevent recklessness, overloading and over speeding. This must not be dreaded seasons but times of eternal joy and celebrations.

Moreover, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), depot operators, among others must work together and ensure seamless supply of fuel nationwide to stop drivers from carrying fuel in vehicles for refuelling. Under no circumstances should the temptation to carry dangerous and inflammable materials as fuel be acceptable in private or passenger commercial vehicles.

And to ensure that accident victims get the care needed, Nigerians should imbibe the culture of donating blood in blood banks as lack of blood for transfusion has led to road accident victims dying of anaemia.

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