On Wednesday, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) announced that road crashes killed no fewer than 67 persons.

The figure is the number of people killed in 220 road crashes in Gombe between January and June 2021.

FRSC Sector Commander Ishaku Ibrahim disclosed this on Wednesday.

He also revealed that the over 200 crashes involved 1,057 persons; only 625 were injured. Three hundred and sixty survived the crashes unhurt.

According to him, speeding and overloading are the two major causes of the increase in road crashes in Gombe.

“Vehicles not having speed limiters make drivers speed, and that is why we have intensified enforcement of speed limiting devices in commercial vehicles and trucks as directed by the corps marshal,’’ said Mr Ibrahim.

He added that his command had become stricter on tackling overloading “ because we have discovered that with overloading when crashes occur, the fatalities rise.’’

Mr Ibrahim further stated that aside from speeding and overloading, the FRSC was thinking of addressing other areas that could result in crashes through enlightenment and engagement of road transport workers in the state.

“We have consulted the state House of Assembly,” said Mr Ibrahim. “It is about enacting laws that will prevent unreasonable pressures on the roads and apply punitive measures on violators of traffic rules and regulations.’’

He mentioned that following the engagements with critical stakeholders, patrol intensification by his personnel and other preventive measures being taken, there would be less crashes in the second half of the year.

The commander also advised drivers of tricycles and motorcycles to steer clear of drugs while driving.

He stated that the FRSC in collaboration with relevant agencies had stepped up surveillance to ensure compliance.