‘500 Children Die Daily In Road Crashes Globally’

The Sector Commander
of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr David Mendie,  in Enugu State, says no fewer than 500 children die every day in road crashes across the world.
Mendie made this known at the 3rd United Nations (UN) Global Child Safety Week rally held in Enugu.
He said that the carnage involving children had become rampant and worrisome, adding that it was in recognition of that that the UN declared a period a ‘children safety week’’ in the world.
“The rally came up as incessant killing of our children on the road around the world rose.
‘’More than 500 children die every day and this had to touch the United Nation which led to the declaration of the children safety week,” he said.
Back home, Mendie said that from December 19, 2014 to December 28, 2014, 489 children were involved in road crashes in Enugu state, with 55 killed while 227 sustained various degrees of injuries.
He said that with the high rate of road crashes involving children, the rally became necessary in order to sensitise all road users to checking the trend.
He called on road users in the state to ensure the safety of children on the roads, saying that they should always bear the safety of children in mind when driving.
He advised that children below the age of 12 must not sit in the front seat of a vehicle ‘but at the back seat with seat belts fastened’’, adding that children from one year to seven years should seat on child’s restraint at the back seat.
Mendie stressed that adherence to the safety instructions would minimise the number of children involved in road crashes.
He also urged motorcycle riders to endeavour to use crash helmet on children who are of age, adding that pedestrians should also ensure that children were always safe while walking with them on the road side.
He pleaded with drivers in the state to drive cautiously and to obey road signs so as to avoid crashes on the road which may as well involve children.