According to the Oyo State-based Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), 146 people perished in different road traffic accidents in the state between January and June.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) received this information from Mr. Joshua Adekanye, state sector commander of the corps, on Friday in Ibadan.
Adekanye also reported that 246 traffic collisions that were recorded to have happened over the same period resulted in 618 people suffering injuries of varying severity.
According to the breakdown he provided, 15 people died in January, 15 in February, 23 in March, 24 in April, 45 in May, and 24 in June.
He stated that an examination had shown that some of the collisions had been caused by speeding, driving while impaired by drink or drugs, or mechanical issues, among other things.
The sector commander warned motorists against careless driving and mentioned that the command has increased its public education and enforcement efforts in auto parks, Churches, and Mosques.
In addition to enforcement, the corps has stepped up public education in parks, Mosques, and Churches to decrease traffic accidents.
“We also take advantage of any chance we get to educate the public about the things that might cause car accidents and how to prevent them.
To spread the word to the wider public, we also employ radio, print, and social media. We also collaborate with traditional leaders to educate their followers on how to prevent the things that might cause traffic accidents.
In addition, he added, “we have increased our enforcement and mobile court to swiftly arraign and prosecute traffic offenders.”
Adekanye said that the problem had been linked to scavengers’ actions and that the corps was aware of the lack of road signs on the roadways.
He said that doing so may endanger both drivers’ and other road users’ lives.
“They (scavengers) are the ones stealing the signpost and plates on the road, and we are talking to the federal and state Ministries of Works to see how the road signs can be replaced,” the man claimed.