By Hungah Peter( Siwes student, Federal Polytechnic Ilaro)
In 2023, the Ogun Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps reported that a total of 192 individuals lost their lives, and 929 individuals sustained injuries in different accidents that occurred in Ogun State.
The spokesperson for TRACE, Mr. Babatunde Akinbiyi, gave the figures in an interview with newsmen.
Akinbiyi explained that from the deaths recorded, 146 were male, while 46 were females from the 630 accidents recorded in the year under review.
The spokesperson for TRACE stated that the provided statistics were compiled based on the areas covered by the joint rescue efforts of TRACE and the police.
According to the spokesperson, a total of 643 males and 286 females were recorded as injured in different accidents that took place throughout the state during the year.
We recorded 361 motor vehicles, 114 buses, 446 articulated vehicles, 58 motorcycles, nine tricycles, and 34 pedestrians involvement in various accidents in 2023.
Comparing years 2022 and 2023 in the state, road traffic deaths increased by 9.09 percent in the year 2023, while the number of persons injured reduced by 12.44 percent, he said.
Akinbiyi identified speeding as the most common cause of road crashes.
He recommended the formation of rescue patrol teams by the TRACE Corps along the state highways, the establishment of State Emergency Rescue Service Centers, and regular clearance of obstructions on the roads as measures to decrease the occurrence of accidents.
