The road traffic crash along Kaduna-Abuja highway Sunday that led to the death of 18 people, while leaving 27 others injured was due to excessive speeding and overloading of goods and passengers, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has said.
The sector commander, RS1.1 Kaduna, CC Kabir Y. Nadabo, said the early morning accident that involved 65 motorists could have been avoided if they had followed the ethics of driving.
He assured Nigerians that measures have been put in place to ensure crash-free season and protect lives and properties along the highways during yuletide season.
He said: “The corps commander expressed sadness on the tragic accident that occurred Sunday at Audu Jangon Village on Kaduna-Abuja expressway at 05:20hrs. The cause of the crash is over speeding and overloading of goods and passengers which resulted in the heavy casualties recorded. Our investigation of the incident has revealed that 65 people were involved in the crash, 27 got injured, and 18 were deceased.
“What we witnessed is avoidable, hence our resolve to continue to reach out to stakeholders, particularly transport unions, to preach and sensitise their drivers on dangers of excessive speeding, overloading, dangerous driving and use of phone while driving, among others. The corps in Kaduna is poised to continue to work hard and liaise with transport stakeholders and the media in preaching the word of safety. The state command has initiated modalities to achieve a crash free season and ensure lives and properties are not lost as a result of road traffic crashes.
“In recent years, the corps marshal of FRSC has established more formations across the country with a bid to ensure prompt response to road traffic crashes, particularly along major critical corridors in the country. In the same vein, the corps marshal has directed various intervention patrols, especially during the yuletide season where vehicles increase on the road due to travelling around the country. The Corps has also promoted the issue of Speed Limiting Device installation to regulate the speed of motorists.”