The number of vehicles involved in road traffic crashes decreased by 26.96 percent in quarter three of 2023 to over 3,371 compared to 4,615 recorded in the previous quarter, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
NBS in its Road Transport Data for quarter three 2023, said the total number of road traffic crashes in Q3 2023 was 2,187, indicating a decrease of 26.29 percent from the previous quarter, which recorded 2,967 and 35.90 percent decrease from 3,412 in quarter three 2022.
A breakdown shows that about 224 trailers were involved in accidents within the period under review while others include eight luxury buses; 916 cars; 127 tricycles; 11 vans; 450 trucks; 49 tankers; 634 minibuses; 107 SUVs; 651 motorcycles; 105 pick-ups; 17 bicycles and 72 others.
“Of all crashes, serious cases stood top in Q3 2023 with 1,419 compared to fatal and minor cases with 532 and 236 respectively. In addition, the three categories of cases recorded a decline, fatal declined by 29.63 percent, seriously declined by 26.06 percent and minor cases declined by 19.18 percent in the quarter under review relative to the preceding quarter,” NBS explained in the report.
The NBS report further stated that a total of 743 males were killed in quarter three of 2023, accounting for 81.83 percent of 908 persons killed, compared to 165, which is about 18.17 percent of females killed.
“Also, a total of 4,625 males were injured during the period, indicating 76.56 percent of 6,041 injured persons compared to 1,416, which equals 23.44 percent of females injured.
“The North-Central recorded the highest number of crashes in quarter three of 2023 with 880, followed by the South-West with 600, while the South-South had the least with 107. Similarly, the North-Central recorded the highest number of casualties with 2,548, followed by the South-West with 1,802, while the South-South recorded the least with 281,” the NBS report stated.
Samuel Oloyede Oriowo, president of the Automobiles And Road Safety Initiative, blamed the bad state of the road for auto accidents on Nigerian roads.
According to him, Federal and State Governments need to focus on building roads that are motorable rather than chasing the roadworthiness of vehicles.
