FRSC CREATES DATA BANK FOR ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENT

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says the need to have a unified road accident data in the country informed the creation of the ‘National Crash Report Information System (NACRIS)’.

According to the Corps 2015 Annual Report, the NACRIS is a committee responsible for the collation and harmonisation of road traffic accident data from all agencies generating data on accident.

The report said the FRSC and Ministry of Health serve as Secretariat of the NACRIS due to the fact that accident “is a health burden’’.

It said other members of the committee are: Police, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), WHO, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Also in the committee are: Federal Fire Service (FFS), Military, Directorate of Road Traffic Service (DRTS) and the National Insurance Commission.

The report said that the Committee met in 2015 and took far reaching decisions on action necessary to have “all data from all generating agencies on road traffic accidents harmonised’’.

It added that a sub-committee with representatives from NBS, FRSC, Police and DRTS had been established to harmonise road traffic accident data quarterly.

Meanwhile, the report said to ensure quick response to accident victims, the corps had introduced two units – Zebra and Road Traffic Crash (RTC) Clinic intervention rescue squad.

“These two special units which are located at critical corridors are injected into the corps to fulfil its mission and vision of ensuring crash-free road and prompt rescue services,’’ the report said.

Source: Guardian.ng

Comments

comments

On FRSC’s creation of data bank for road traffic incidents and issues of inappropriate funding

The FRSC seems to be emerging as the most innovative Government agency in Nigeria but if truth be told, it lacks the funding capacity to implement most of its concepts that would address the many safety challenges that confront road users in Nigeria. FRSC’s new initiative on ‘National Crash Report Information System (NACRIS) is well intended for road users. On this, the FRSC management deserves commendation because road traffic injury statistics is huge problem for most African nations. However, one question, how would an underfunded agency like the FRSC conduct such a complex task without appropriate funding? Indeed, it is high time the Nigerian government realised the need to set up a National Road Safety Fund to support the activities of the FRSC especially given its incapacity as a result the competing needs for the nation’s dwindling resources.

For decades we have lived in pretence that road safety conditions will improve in Nigeria despite the existence of many bad roads. Unfortunately, preventable road deaths have become number one killer disease in Nigeria. The need for the Nigerian government under the leadership of President Buhari to adopt a multi funding approach for the FRSC deserves prompt attention as it will help effect the necessary change on Road Traffic Injury. Simply put, the way to go is to ensure that all those that benefit from road and vehicle use including those that their products increase road crash incidents should be made to compulsorily contribute to enhanced funding of the FRSC. This is a tested and proven practice especially in countries with success stories on road fatality and injury reduction. The many road construction companies, oil companies, motor vehicle or spare parts sellers, cement manufacturers, alcohol beverage manufacturers, road unions and major fleet operators should be made to dedicate a certain percentage of their annual profit to road safety. Legislation on this will not be difficult especially now that it is obvious that every road user in Nigeria is a potential road crash victim.

The FRSC has many brilliant and committed officers but they are no magicians that can curb road crashes without proper facilities and funding. What an agency like the FRSC lacks is appropriate funding to reduce many preventable road deaths. The Buhari’s administration of ‘change’ cannot change the road traffic injury complexion in Nigeria without a broad funding approach for the FRSC. Road safety is a collective responsibility and such a task should not be left for the Government. Enough of the day dream on road crash reduction in Nigeria without the government adopting fresh realities on how best to fund it.
Angela Nwokolo is a Member of PATVORA Initiative, a Road Safety NGO
nwokoloangela@yahoo.com

2 comments

Angela Nwokolo says:

July 29, 2016 at 2:32 am

On FRSC’s creation of data bank for road traffic incidents and issues of inappropriate funding

The FRSC seems to be emerging as the most innovative Government agency in Nigeria but if truth be told, it lacks the funding capacity to implement most of its concepts that would address the many safety challenges that confront road users in Nigeria. FRSC’s new initiative on ‘National Crash Report Information System (NACRIS) is well intended for road users. On this, the FRSC management deserves commendation because road traffic injury statistics is huge problem for most African nations. However, one question, how would an underfunded agency like the FRSC conduct such a complex task without appropriate funding? Indeed, it is high time the Nigerian government realised the need to set up a National Road Safety Fund to support the activities of the FRSC especially given its incapacity as a result the competing needs for the nation’s dwindling resources.

For decades we have lived in pretence that road safety conditions will improve in Nigeria despite the existence of many bad roads. Unfortunately, preventable road deaths have become number one killer disease in Nigeria. The need for the Nigerian government under the leadership of President Buhari to adopt a multi funding approach for the FRSC deserves prompt attention as it will help effect the necessary change on Road Traffic Injury. Simply put, the way to go is to ensure that all those that benefit from road and vehicle use including those that their products increase road crash incidents should be made to compulsorily contribute to enhanced funding of the FRSC. This is a tested and proven practice especially in countries with success stories on road fatality and injury reduction. The many road construction companies, oil companies, motor vehicle or spare parts sellers, cement manufacturers, alcohol beverage manufacturers, road unions and major fleet operators should be made to dedicate a certain percentage of their annual profit to road safety. Legislation on this will not be difficult especially now that it is obvious that every road user in Nigeria is a potential road crash victim.

The FRSC has many brilliant and committed officers but they are no magicians that can curb road crashes without proper facilities and funding. What an agency like the FRSC lacks is appropriate funding to reduce many preventable road deaths. The Buhari’s administration of ‘change’ cannot change the road traffic injury complexion in Nigeria without a broad funding approach for the FRSC. Road safety is a collective responsibility and such a task should not be left for the Government. Enough of the day dream on road crash reduction in Nigeria without the government adopting fresh realities on how best to fund it.
Angela Nwokolo is a Member of PATVORA Initiative, a Road Safety NGO
nwokoloangela@yahoo.com

Godwin Umenna says:

July 30, 2016 at 2:38 am

Issorite! Excellent opinion. Pass comments to PMB for action