The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ogun said it recorded 65 road traffic crashes between January and October this year in Ota and its environs.
Mr Ahmed Umar, the FRSC Ogun Sector Commander, disclosed this on Wednesday in Ota at the flag off of the 2022 Ember Months campaign.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 2022 Ember Months campaign which has as its theme: “Avoid Speeding, Overloading and Unsafe Tyres to arrive Alive’, was organised in collaboration with Shell Nigeria Gas.
Umar said that 17 people were killed while 119 others were rescued from 65 road crashes which occurred during the period under review.
The sector commander noted that 31 out of the 65 road crashes occurred at night.
He attributed crashes at night to speed limit violation and mechanic deficiency in the vehicles.
“We are appealing to motorists to avoid speeding, overloading and refraining from using unsafe tyres to stem road crashes during, before and after the Ember Months.
Umar implored motorists to imbibe safety culture as Ember Months were always characterised by high vehicular and human movements, heightened social and religious activities which sometimes lead to road crashes and loss of lives.
He emphasised the need for motorists to adhere strictly to stipulated speed limits to stem road crashes during Ember Months.
In his address of welcome, Mr Akeem Ganiyu, Sango-Ota Unit Commander of the FRSC, said that the Ember Months campaign was aimed sensitising motorists and the public on the importance of safety, especially during this time of the year.
Ganiyu noted that in spite of mythical and spiritual perceptions, most of the road crashes were avoidable if all traffic rules and regulations were strictly obeyed.
The unit commander identified some major causes of accidents to speeding, overloading, worn-out tyres, drunk driving and the use of mobile phones while driving.
He said that the human factors listed above contributed to eighty per cent of road crashes.
“There is the need to re-orientate road users on road safety and the dangers inherent on the road if the basic rules were violated,” he said.