The Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, on Sunday warned Nigerians against night travels as it said the practice is unsafe.
The FRSC said events of the last one week and especially that of the New Year period have confirmed that travels at night are characterized by sleep, tiredness and other cases notable to fatal crashes.
A statement by FRSC boss, Boboye Oyeyemi said the advice arose from the dangers, the risks and the rising cases of fatalities occasioned by road traffic crashes recorded at night.
Oyeyemi also advised fleet operators, other commercial drivers and patronisers of night trips, including private vehicle owners to desist henceforth from it.
The Corps Marshal who spoke extensively on why night trips should be avoided, said “on January 5, 2021 alone, an unavoidable fatal crash occurred in Kabba, Kogi State where two vehicles were caught up in a head-on collision as a result of a combination of some factors revealed to be fatigue and sleeping on the steering.
“The crash involved the driver of a white Toyota Hiace bus ((MSA 942 XA) that contravened COVID-19 protocols on physical distancing by overloading the bus with 18 passengers instead of the prescribed 8 passengers and a green Iveco trailer ( AKA 788 XC) carrying seven passengers. Out of the 25 passengers on board the two vehicles, eight were killed while 17 sustained various injuries.
While maintaining that night crashes are more fatal than the ones in the day, Oyeyemi said “on January 9, 2021, two vehicles; a white Sienna (KUG 538 BJ) and a Sharon bus without a number plate were involved in a fatal crash on Akwanga-Keffi road leaving the entire 17 passengers on board burnt beyond recognition.”
Speaking further, the Corps Marshal disclosed that “intelligence report reveals that most fleet operators and other vehicle owners, including private vehicle owners who are addicted to night journeys, do so for selfish economic gains, unnecessary overloading of vehicles with both passengers and goods and to avoid arrest and enforcement on physical distancing by FRSC patrol teams.”
He warned that in as much as the Corps does not have the statutory powers to ban night trips, it has become very critical and a matter of urgency for patronisers of night trips to retrace their steps and plan their journeys in the day time “because often times, when crash occurs away from FRSC rescue points, its difficult to access help from motorists at night.”
Oyeyemi also warned passengers whose journeys could wait for the next day to resist any temptation that could lead them into patronising fleet operators at night.
He warned that deaths from night crashes are not only avoidable and preventable but totally unacceptable.
Source:The Will