By By Aanuoluwa Omotosho
Thumbs up to Cameroon! They have found a way to curb road accidents. According to Raquel Muigai of CGTN Africa, Cameroon has one of the worst road safety records in the region, with more people dying in car accidents than from malaria every year. As a result, mobile app developers have launched a new technology called Traveler. This newest innovation will monitor drivers and vehicles on their routes and will save hundreds of lives in the process.
What does this mean for Nigeria?
OFFICIALS OF FEDERAL ROAD SAFETY CORPS EVACUATING AN ACCIDENT VICTIM FROM AN ACCIDENT
SCENE CAUSED BY A TANKER, WHICH LOST CONTROL AND CRUSHED CARS AND MOTORCYCLES ON ZUBA-KADUNA
EXPRESSWAY AT MADALLA ON MONDAY (1/9/14).
4292/1/9/2014/BJO/AIN/NAN
Deaths from reckless driving are the third leading cause of death in Nigeria, research claims. Yes, we cannot dispute the fact that road accidents occur in both the developed and developing nations, but the developing countries clearly dominate with Nigeria having the second highest rate of road accidents among 193 ranked countries of the world. To reiterate this fact, the World Health Organization (WHO), declared Nigeria the most dangerous country in Africa with 33.7 deaths per 100,000 population every year.
Statistics show that in 2013 for instance, 6450 Nigerians lost their lives on our roads, which includes 4552 men, 1398 women, 299 boys and 201 girls. Between 2009 and 2013, 30435 people were killed in road accidents in Nigeria. Also, 28480 men, 9198 women, 1520 boys and 859 girls, a total of 40057 people were injured in road accidents in 2013 while 183531 people were injured in road accidents between 2009 and 2013.
This is a rotten reflection of Nigeria. The onus is on the Federal and state Governments, road safety agencies (FRSC), motorists and other stakeholders to come up with a similar innovation that will prevent or minimize accidents on the highway.
