The Acting Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Dauda Ali Biu, has again cautioned drivers against violating prescribed speed limit, admonished against night trips as well as urged them to always observe rest period of 30 minutes after every 4 hours drive to avoid the dangers of excessive speed and fatigue on the highways.
The warning by Biu, according to FRSC spokesman, Mr. Bisi Kazeem, followed the fatal crash that occurred during the early hours of Tuesday, along the Kwali- Abaji Expressway.
He described as “avoidable” the crash that occurred on Tuesday at 0630HRS, along Kwali -Abaji Expressway, before Awawa, within the Federal Capital Territory.
Investigation into the fatal crash revealed that one DAF Trailer with registration number BAU 632 XA, and a Toyota bus with registration number, GME 201 ZU, were involved.
There were a total of 22 occupants involved in the crash, out of which 17 victims, all male were killed.
Four other occupants, also male victims who were rescued alive sustained various degrees of injuries, while the remaining one male occupant was rescued without any injury.
READ ALSO: Three die, two injured in Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway accident
The main cause of the crash, according to the report were excessive speed (Speed Limit Violation) and fatigue.
As at the time of this statement, the emergency rescue team of the Corps had concluded the rescue of the injured victims to Abaji General Hospital for immediate medical attention, while the remains of the dead victims were deposited at the mortuary.
Speaking on the causes of the crash, the Acting Corps Marshal maintained that drivers must avoid speeding as crash investigation conducted over the years had attributed major causes of crashes in Nigeria to excessive violation of legal speed limit on all roads.
He revealed that the fatigue was as a result of the driver’s indulgence in a night long trip without observing adequate rest within the driving period.
According to him, it was this and many other factors that necessitated the directive given by the federal government for the corps to commence sensitisation and subsequently, enforcement on compulsory installation of speed limiting device.
While warning violators to desist from compromising road traffic regulations, he assured the public that the corps would step up formidable operational activities that will bring this menace to an end.
He admonished the public to always patronize the FRSC toll free line 122 and the National Traffic Radio 107.1 FM which are always available for all road users to report emergencies at any given time.
