In a move to reduce road crashes in the country, the Federal Road Safety Corps has proposed jail terms for drivers responsible for road accidents.
FRSC Corps Marshal, Dauda Biu, made the proposition in response to recent avoidable crashes in Oyo, Kano, and Kaduna states.
Reports show that there were road crashes at Gaya Junction in Kano and Tashan Yari in Kaduna, which resulted in a total of eighteen fatalities on April 18 and 19, 2024.
Also, there was a crash on the Oyo-Ogbomoso route that claimed 19 passengers on April 14, 2024.
The FRSC Corp Marshal, who spoke at a press conference in Abuja, stated that the FRSC had urged all state governments to prosecute drivers for violating road laws.
He stressed the need for stringent penalties, including jail terms without the option of fines, to deter reckless driving.
The Corps Marshal noted that, the FRSC have written to all state governors to help prosecute drivers causing road crashes.
Biu explained that the Corp have received a letter from the Kaduna State government of its commitment to prosecute these drivers, while hoping that other states will follow suit in directing their Commissioners of Justice or police so that drivers who indulge or violate road rules are prosecuted.
The Corps Marshal further disclosed that the FRSC was intensifying collaboration with the judiciary across the 36 states to expedite the trial of drivers involved in road accidents.
Biu noted that offenders would face legal consequences to deter others from driving recklessly.
He however noted a reduction in fatalities during the 2024 Easter and Eid-el-Fitr holidays, compared to the previous year, indicating progress in road safety efforts.