FRSC blames 90% road crashes on human factors in Gombe

The Federal Road Safety Corps, Gombe State Command, says 90 per cent of road accidents in the state are caused by human factors.
Dr Godwin Omiko, FRSC state’s sector commander, made the disclosure at an emergency meeting held with religious leaders in the state, to find lasting solutions to the increasing rate of accidents.
News Agency of Nigeria reports that the heads of security agencies, Pastors and Imams took part in the meeting held in Gombe on Tuesday.
The meeting focused on awareness creation for Imams and Pastors in Gombe on road crashes.
Omiko said the number of deaths being recorded as a result of road crashes in Gombe was “alarming and unprecedented”, adding that such had necessitated the meeting with religious leaders.
The sector commander noted that the religious leaders were in better positions to reach out to more people.
He said in 2018, 211 road crashes were recorded in Gombe with 645 persons sustaining various degree of injuries, adding that in 2019 so far, 64 crashes had been recorded with more than 296 persons injured.
According to him, speed violation and loss of control account for over 80 per cent of crashes in the state, which must be addressed to ensure that Gombe roads do not become death traps.
He said: “Our worries are that with the rehabilitation of major highways coupled with the topography of the state, the preponderance of crashes will increase if nothing is done.
“We have called the religious leaders because road users are from churches and mosques.
“These leaders have access to persons that we may not reach; so we are partnering with them to help us curb the increasing crashes.
“So, the religious leaders should do more to work on the behaviours of worshippers and continue to sensitise people to bring down the cases of road crashes in the state.”
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Malam Bello Makwashi, noted that the sensitisation was timely in view of the series of road crashes recorded in the 2019 so far.
Represented by Officer in charge of Motorpol, SP Yohanna Atuman, Makwashi appealed to the people to always inform the police before carrying out rallies or processions for the purpose of adequate protection.
Rev. Michael Malori of ECWA Gospel lauded the effort of the FRSC, assuring the participants that he would take the message to his church members.
Alhaji Mohammed Pindiga, the Chief Imam of Gombe Central Mosque, urged all stakeholders to take the issue discussed seriously, saying that motorists must be careful while driving.