FRSC blames driver behaviour for 3,400 road crash deaths in 2025 — FRSC

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has revealed that reckless driving and human error were responsible for more than 3,400 deaths from road crashes recorded across Nigeria between January and September 2025.

Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed disclosed this on Monday in Abuja during a press conference to launch the 2025 Ember Months Public Enlightenment and Sensitisation Campaign.

According to him, 3,433 people lost their lives while 22,162 others sustained injuries in 6,858 reported crashes within the first nine months of the year.

He added that during the 2024 end-of-year “Operation Zero” exercise, conducted from December 15, 2024, to January 15, 2025, 432 people were killed and 2,070 injured in 533 crashes.

Mohammed identified driver fatigue, overloading, phone use while driving, conveying passengers in haulage vehicles, and transporting fuel in plastic containers as major causes of crashes.

He stressed that most incidents were preventable if drivers adhered to safety regulations.

“The theme of this year’s campaign, ‘Take Responsibility for Your Safety: Stop Distracted Driving,’ highlights the fact that human behaviour remains the leading cause of road crashes,” he said.

To curb accidents during the Ember months, the FRSC has rolled out several safety measures, including the deployment of personnel and special marshals on major highways, free vehicle safety checks, motor park rallies, and town hall engagements with transport unions and other stakeholders.

Mohammed also announced ongoing reforms to improve road safety, including the upgrading of driving school standards and stricter enforcement of safety requirements for fleet operators.

Addressing challenges in driver’s licence processing, he revealed that the Corps’ printing facility had been upgraded to produce 15,000 licences daily, with plans to clear the backlog before mid-November 2025.

A new contactless biometric capture and instant licence printing system will also be introduced to replace temporary licences and streamline the issuance process.

In addition, the FRSC will host an International Conference on Road Crash Victims for Africa from November 16–18, 2025, in partnership with the KRSD Road Safety Foundation.

The conference aims to enhance emergency response and rehabilitation of crash victims in line with the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety.

Mohammed commended the Federal Government and the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation for their continued support and urged all motorists to prioritise safety as the festive season approaches.