OWERRI -Some 75 persons were killed in road accidents in the first six months of this year in Imo, as against 91 recorded in the same period last year.

The FRSC State Sector Commander, Mr. Angus Ibezim, told newsmen in Owerri on Wednesday that 160 road accidents were recorded from January to June, as against 322 during the same period last year.

He, however, said that 37 of the accidents were fatal, while 65 were serious and 58 minor.
He said that 333 persons were injured in the accidents.

Ibezim, however, attributed the reduction in the number of accidents to the regular “special road patrols” by FRSC officers and the aggressive road safety campaigns staged at motor parks, churches and mosques.

He, nonetheless, lamented that the greatest challenge to road safety in the state had been the drivers of commercial vehicles who, he noted, hardly obeyed traffic rules.

He said that the FRSC had impounded several vehicles for various traffic offences, ranging from the non-use of seat belt, worn-out tyres, overloading, over-speeding and reckless driving.

However, Ibezim urged state House of Assembly to promptly pass the Bill on Passengers’ Manifest, stressing that many commercial drivers still plied the roads without having the passengers’ manifest.

He said that the drivers often violated the existing law on the manifest which stipulated a N10,000 fine for violators.

He stressed that the passengers’ manifest would be very useful, if there was an accident, in identifying the victims.

Ibezim commended the state government for donating operational vehicles to the FRSC command.
He, however, said that the command still needed more support, particularly in area of ambulances, communication gadgets and towing trucks.