Nigeria Marks Crash Victims Day As FRSC Boss, Boboye Oyeyemi Vows To Reduce Road Crashes
According to Oyeyemi, the day for the remembrance of victims of road traffic crashes was first observed in the United Kingdom by a charity group, Roadpeace in 1993, to promote the day nationally and internationally, but was later adopted by the United Nations in 2005 in acknowledgement of the suffering which crash victims go through.
The Corps Marshal added that the day is dedicated to highlighting the enormous loss of lives on the roads and the hardships the bereaved and injured victims of road traffic crashes suffer, saying it is expected that people would use the day to show commitment to issues of road safety. “The day is expected to highlight the scale and impact of road deaths and injuries on the global roads as well as the consequences they have on the economy,” he stated.
Oyeyemi noted that since the formal adoption of the day by the global body, there has been increased public awareness on issues of road safety with governments the world over gradually responding to the challenges of road safety through the adoption of measures that promote safer roads campaigns. “Consequently, over 50 countries worldwide have today identified with the call and are currently observing the day as we do in Nigeria,” he further stated.
He stressed that report from the World Health Organisation (WHO) indicates that not less than 3,200 people die daily on the World’s Roads with tens of thousands being disabled for life, noting that other empirical studies have equally shown that automobile crashes have become one of the leading causes of death among young adults who constitute the productive age bracket, with attendant consequences on the economy. “That is why the Federal Road Safety Corps will continue to show commitment of road safety to pursuing policies and programmes that could address the challenge,” he stated.
Oyeyemi observed that the Day offered people opportunity to engage in public awareness programmes that promote major public health and development initiatives that assist victims of road crashes. He further stated that the theme for this year’s event, which is “It’s Time to Remember – Say No to Road Crime,” was carefully chosen for people to deeply reflect on the activities marking the day and take appropriate measures that can address the menace.