FRSC Zamfara Command to tackle growing road crashes — Commander
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Zamfara Command, on Monday reiterated its resolve to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to tackle road crashes in the state.
Mr Iro Danladi, Zamfara Sector Commander, stated this while addressing a news conference on Monday in Gusau as part of the activities to mark the 2021 African Road Safety Day.
He said his command would champion the course of road safety in the state within the week and beyond.
“This auspicious press conference is part of the activities lined up to mark the 26th Anniversary of World Day of Remembrance of Road Traffic Crash Victims (WDoR 2021) and Africa Road Safety Day, 2021 being the 15th November, 2021.
“The global status report on road safety, launched by World Health Organisation (WHO) in December 2018, highlights that the number of annual road traffic deaths has reached 1.35 million.
“Road traffic injuries are now the leading killer of people aged between five and 29 years.
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“The burden is disproportionately borne by pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, in particular those living in developing countries like ours,” Danladi said.
According to him, the report also indicates that progress to realise Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 3.6 which calls for a 50 per cent reduction in the number of road traffic deaths and injuries by 2020 remains far from sufficient.
“More than half of all road traffic deaths are among vulnerable road users, pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.
“Pedestrians, cyclists, and riders of motorised two- and three-wheelers and their passengers are collectively known as “vulnerable road users” and account for half of all road traffic deaths around the world.
“A higher proportion of vulnerable road users die in low-income countries than in high-income countries, and hence, the muting of the idea of remembering those affected by the road carnages,” he said.
Danladi noted that the day is also marked to remember the many millions killed or seriously injured on the world’s roads and to acknowledge the sufferings of all affected victims, families and communities, including Zamfara.
He said the day had also become an important tool for governments and stakeholders to intensify efforts to prevent road crashes from spiking.
He said the day offered the corps the opportunity to demonstrate the enormous effort in reducing the impacts of road deaths and injuries in the state through appropriate response.
The Voice Media Trust (VMT NEWS) reports that the European Federation of Road Traffic Victims (FEVR, or (Fédération Européenne des Victimes de la Route) began to mark the day in 1995.
“This year marks the start of the new Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030, during which the World Day will play a very important part through highlighting the very reasons for all the necessary actions during this coming decade.
“The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Crash Victims (WDoR) is commemorated on the third Sunday of November each year which falls on Nov. 21 this year.
“This year’s version is with the theme, “Act for Low Speeds/Act for Low Speed Streets” and with the slogan, “Remember. Support. Act”.
“WDoR 2021 puts the spotlight on the reduction of traffic speeds which have the potential to prevent many deaths and serious injuries, in particular those of pedestrians and all other vulnerable road users, children, elderly and the disabled.
“The objectives of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims are to provide a platform for road traffic crash victims and their families to remember all the people killed and seriously injured on the roads; acknowledge the crucial work of the emergency services;
“Also to draw attention to the generally trivial legal response to culpable road deaths and injuries; advocate for a better support for road traffic victims and victim families;
“And promote evidence-based actions to prevent and eventually stop further road traffic deaths and injuries.
“In line with the existing tradition of hosting the event, the Zamfara Command, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, is organising a week-long series of activities to commemorate the event,” Danladi explained.
He said the state command would visit hospitals to commiserate with crash victims and donate some sanitary items to them.
It will also engage in robust public enlightenment and hold commemorative jumu’at and church services.
The command will intensify efforts to minimise the rate of road traffic crashes and to create safer motoring environment for all.
