The Federal Road Safety Corps says it recorded 79 deaths in 278 road crashes in Gombe between January and October 31, 2023.

FRSC commander Felix Theman disclosed this at the inauguration of the 2023 Ember months campaign on Tuesday in Gombe. The campaign’s theme is ‘Speed Thrills but Kills, Drive Responsibly, and Avoid Overloading’.

Mr Theman said 779 people were wounded in the crashes, adding that analysis of the crashes indicated a significant drop in the number of crashes, attributing the trend to a decrease in the number of passengers travelling in Gombe.

“In 2022, the command recorded a total of 445 crashes, with 57 fatalities, killing a total of 110 persons, and 1,074 were injured. However, for the year 2023 up to October 31, 2023, a total of 278 crashes have been recorded, with 43 fatal cases, killing 79 persons and injuring 779 others,” Mr Theman explained.

Mr Theman also mentioned that FRSC officials arrested 4,665 offenders who committed 5,098 traffic offences in the past ten months across Gombe.

“The highest offences for which they were arrested and issued tickets were overloading, failure to install a speed-limiting device, failure to display a number plate, driving without a license, failure to wear a seatbelt, and driving against traffic, amongst other offences,” said the FRSC commander.

According to him, FRSC, in collaboration with stakeholders, is adopting proactive measures to ensure safe road use throughout the ember months.

The state routes, he said, were being mapped out to enable the personnel to carry out effective patrol and surveillance as well as enforce traffic rules to ensure the safety of motorists in Gombe.

While commending the Gombe government for providing good road infrastructure, Mr Theman advised drivers not to see the gesture as a reason for speeding.

Governor Inuwa Yahaya said his government was concerned about the safety of all motorists using roads in Gombe.

“Much as the state government is doing its best, it is expected that our people must develop and imbibe the right attitude towards the usage of these roads. Basically, we are expected to take upon ourselves the twin social responsibilities of eagerness to obey the rules guiding the usage of the roads and the willingness to share the roads with others,” he said.

(NAN)