ABUJA – The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) said it would help accident victims or relations of persons who died in road accidents to seek redress and get compensation.
The commission said this would serve as means of stemming the rate of road accidents in the country.
This is contained in a statement signed yesterday by Corps Commander Umoh Etuk, Corps Public Education Officer of the commission, and made available to newsmen in Abuja.
According to Etuk, FRSC has concluded arrangements to aid injured victims of road traffic crashes and relatives of dead victims to seek redress and compensation in court.
He said this would serve as deterrent to drivers with the penchant for violation of traffic rules and regulations.
“ A situation where multiple deaths are recorded due to carelessness and dereliction of drivers/owners of vehicles is totally unacceptable.
“ Emerging trends have also revealed lane violation, speed limit violation and wrong use of vehicles in carrying passengers were major causes of road crashes on Nigerian roads,” he said.
Etuk said the decision followed the displeasure expressed by the Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi, over 37 deaths recorded in road crashes in parts of the country in the past few days.
He said the commission would not spare any violator in its implementation of the decision.
Etuk said the crash that occurred along Ilesha-Ife road on February 8, 2015 was linked to route violation.
“ The driver of an ash-coloured Toyota Hiace bus was said to have left his lane and drove against traffic.
“It had a head-on collision with an ash-coloured Sienna bus , resulting in 17 deaths, while 2 persons seriously injured.
“Similarly, 16 persons died and 49 others were injured along Dogon Kuka in Damaturu, Yobe, on February 2, 2015, involving a Luxury bus and a trailer, caused by speed limit violation, tyre burst and loss of control.
“ Also, two people were killed at Askunni bridge along Sokoto-Talata Mafara-Gusau road on February 3, 2015, when a Sharon bus crashed due to loss of control and injured 6 other persons,” he said.
Etuk called on road users to avoid traffic violations such as driving against traffic, speed limit violation, dangerous driving and making phone call while driving.
He also advised against non use of seat belt and drunk driving.