Federal Road Safety Corps, has announced that up to 215 people were killed in accidents on the Lagos-Ogun road corridor between January and June this year.

Zonal Commanding Officer in- Charge of Ogun and Lagos State Commands, John Meheux who made the announcement in Lagos, while speaking at a sensitisation rally at the Ojota Park in Lagos, said the total number of road crashes recorded within the period stand at 434 with 117 involving loss of lives.

Meheux said 237 of the accidents were classified as serious with 1,363 people sustaining injuries, saying the total number of people involved in the accidents were 3,696.

He said the development compelled the commission to embark on rigorous sensitisations and enlightenment of commercial bus drivers to caution them on the danger of drunk and reckless driving.

Meheux described the rainy season as a special period that was characterised by flooding, slippery road surfaces, poor visibility and fallen trees that could result to crashes.

He advised commercial bus drivers to always go for medical checkups before embarking on long trips.

FRSC Lagos State Sector Commander, Hyginus Omeja, who gave lecture on the topic, Hazardous Conditions (Rain and Drugged Driving) a Threat to Safety on our Roads, warned on the danger of using hard drugs while driving.

Omeje said drivers must always endeavour to check their wipers, lights, water and tyres before leaving the house at any point in time, saying it was very important to be extra-careful when driving during the rain.

According to him, the very important thing to do as a driver was to reduce your speed when it was raining, keep longer distance with the vehicle ahead of you and ensure that your wiper was working effectively.

“Also, the mistake many drivers do is that some of them get drunk when there is rain hiding under the fact that alcohol is warming their body, the attitude is what causes accidents quickly on the road,” he said.

The sector commander appealed to drivers to shun the non-challant attitude of drivers toward traffic rules and regulations and toward maintaining their vehicles.

Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers, Lagos State Chapter, Tajudeen Agbede also advised members of the union to drive cautiously during the rainy season.

Agbede, who spoke through his Deputy, Olawale Ajilo, advised drivers to always show patience while driving, advising the union members to shun reckless driving, drunk-driving and to obey traffic rules and law enforcement agencies on the roads.