By Vincent McAnthony, Gombe

At least 112 people lost their lives in Gombe state as a result of road traffic crashes (RTS) that occurred in the state from January to October 31, 2016.

File: Accident scene

David Mendie, Sector Commander, Gombe State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) disclosed this in Gombe state yesterday. He said the figure would have been reduced but for a notorious spot on Gombe–Yola highway where about 60 people died in multiple crashes within two weeks. He said the Gombe Sector Command was keying into Nigeria’s target of reducing RTC by 15 percent and fatality by 25 percent by the year 2020 as part of its determination to reduce auto crashes in the state to the barest minimum.

Mendie emphasized the need for motorists, especially commercial vehicle operators to observe the four years expiry date of tyres for intra-city vehicles and short distance travellers, while vehicles that travel long distances should have their tyres changed after it covers 80,000 kilometre distances

“When we talk about expiring of tyres, if you park your vehicles on ordinary surface for sometime, don’t expect that the tyre(s) will still serve you for four years because the chemical components are affected and such tyre will not serve maximally,” he added

He told all commercial drivers in the state to ensure they install their speed limiter devices by taking advantage of the ongoing advocacy enforcement as full enforcement commences by January 1, 2017.