ABUJA - Twenty-two persons were killed in 1,162 accidents recorded on the stretch of road from A.Y.A to Nyanya in Abuja in the first nine months of the year, says Mr. Godwin Apochi, the Unit Commander of the FRSC in Nyanya.
Apochi told Nigerian Observer in Abuja that another 190 people were injured in the accidents.
“The road is hilly and winding; it is left for the road users to be careful but they are always in a hurry.
“Where they are running to is what I cannot explain,” he said.
Apochi said most of the accidents were caused by tankers and articulated vehicles in poor serviceable conditions.
“Most of the accidents are caused by tankers and trailers, they don’t service their lorries and will always carry heavy loads most of the times.
“Their brakes are not functioning well, and they will be moving on a high speed,” he said.
“The slope on that road is too steep; the drivers should know that once they enter the road, their speed should reduce because of the nature of the road, but they will not bother to check their speedometer. It can lead to accidents,” he said.
The unit commander noted that the government could not be blamed for the accidents because it had done a lot to improve the roads.
“It is only the road users that can solve the problem themselves.
They should change their attitude of driving recklessly, be patient and know how and when to overtake. They should always check their car before living the house.
“Government or FRSC officials cannot be going to their houses to be reminding them every morning to check their cars before living their homes, ”he said.
He advised learner drivers to go to professional driving schools for at least one month and master road traffic rules, adding that learners must first hone their skills on less busy roads before entering the major streets.
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