25 die, 53 injured in Kano trailer accident

Group: 80% of road crashes are human induced

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kano Command has confirmed the death of 25 travellers, while 53 others were injured in an early morning auto crash.

The incident occurred in the Dangwaro International Market, in the metropolitan area of Kano.

The travellers were said to have been loaded in a trailer which also carried cows heading to the Southern part of Nigeria from Maiduguri. However, the trailer collided with another vehicle and somersaulted.

The FRSC Sector Commander in the state, Ibrahim Abdullahi confirmed the incident in a statement issued to newsmen on Monday in Kano.

He said that the accident involved a trailer (IVECO) with registration number XA 311 ZB.

MEANWHILE, Professional Driving and Safety Academy, (PDSA) has said that 80 per cent of road accidents in Nigeria are caused by human factors while over 70 percent were attributed to drivers.

Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the academy, Jide Owatunmise, said that several global and national research have affirmed this noting that driving remained one of the most complex tasks demanding keen attention and coordination.

He stated this at the unveiling of the 2024 best driver in Nigeria competition and free road safety education for drivers nationwide, in Abuja.

He explained: “If the causative factors associated with the drivers are effectively addressed, the rate of Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs), will be significantly and sustainably reduced.”

He also said that as high as the rate of RTCs, injuries and deaths were, they were preventable with adequate knowledge and compliance to road rules.

Owatunmise pointed that “Section 57 (1) of the National Road Traffic Regulations (NRTR), 2012 and 2016 Amendments, which clearly states that drivers (and riders) are to undergo a minimum of cumulative nine hours of competence training before every renewal of their license.

He insisted that vehicle technology has been changing, road traffic regulations are regularly updated, the mental and physical fitness of drivers is not static and the road environment is also dynamic among others.

“It is, however, disheartening that over 80 per cent of drivers’ are not complying with provisions of the NRTR and Resolutions of NCT on the need for regular updating of knowledge, skills and attitudes on driving in Nigeria.

Speaking on this year’s driver’s competition, the registrar explained that “The expanded year 2024 edition of the Annual Drivers’ Day has three branches of events as follows including Best Driver in Nigeria Competition and Free Road Safety Education, International Drivers Conference and Awards to deserving Organisations and Individuals in Transportation and Road Safety.

“The goal is to collaborate with all stakeholders to advocate for policies, initiatives and activities which effectively enhance road safety education and safer road use in Nigeria.

“Our objective is to boost road safety education, enhance road safety consciousness, reiterate the relevance of drivers and riders in the prevention of RTCs, and to boost Drivers’ and Riders’ Motivation for improved performance and safety”, he adds.

The person that emerges as the ‘Best Driver’ in the competition will win a car prize worth N20 million while the First Runner up will get N5 million. The Second runner up gets N3 million and the fourth to 10th position will receive N1 million each and varieties of consolation prizes for all other contestants.

Registration for participation is expected to start from June 28, nationwide with a fee of N2, 000 while screening and free road safety trainings starts from July leading up to the grand finale slated for November 21, 2024.