The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Gombe recorded 377 motorcycle accidents between January and December 2022.

FRSC sector commander Felix Theman said this in an interview at the Corps Headquarters, Lafiyawo, in the Akko council area.

He said statistics of the corps showed that the recorded 377 road crashes involved underage riding of motorcycles and tricycles, particularly in the Gombe metropolis.

Mr Theman said underage motorbike riding was illegal, adding that “we have taken measures to tackle that challenge.”

The sector commander said that corps personnel had stepped up enforcement to tackle underage motorcycle riding and ensure safety on the road.

“We have instances where very young boys that are not up to the legal age of age 18, parents allowing them to ride recklessly on the road causing unnecessary crashes, particularly within the township,” he stated. “We increased our response to road traffic offences by enforcing mobile courts sitting in collaboration with the state judiciary.”

The sector commander said personnel arrested several offenders during Operation Zero between December 2022 and January 2023.

“For underage, we have embarked on sensitisation targeting parents and those groups of people to tell them the danger of having children riding motorcycles and tricycles,” Mr Theman stated.

Mr Theman noted that arrests were made to tackle the spate of underage motorbike riding in the state.

Therefore, he warned parents and guardians to monitor their wards against committing road traffic offences that could lead to crashes.

(NAN)