In its efforts of ensuring the gospel of safety during the Christmas and New Year celebrations cut across the whole country, the leading agency in traffic management, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on today, December 8, 2020 organised a public enlightenment campaign, tagged: "DRIVE SAFE, STAY SAFE to all road users especially the motorists at Idi-Oro Motor Park Ode Remo, Ogun State.
The public enlightenment campaign was in continuation of 'ember months', a yearly tradition of the FRSC, usually commenced in the beginning of the last quarter of every year. It served as a reminder to all road users the importance of adhering strictly to traffic rules as the last four months of the year always characterised with high volume of human and vehicular movements thereby resulting to high rate of traffic crashes.
Speaking at the event, the Ogun State Sector Commander of FRSC, CC Ahmed Umar, said the importance of intensified more on public enlightenment campaign especially in motor parks and garages during 'ember months' is to assist the Corps in spreading the gospel of safety among the drivers, passengers and other transport stakeholders.
CC Umar, who represented by the Sector Head of Admin, Deputy Corps Commander (DCC) Edojah C Akpososo, said all drivers are expected to have attitudinal change towards the use of roads that would enable them drive safe to stay alive while behind the wheels during and after the yuletide.
He said it has been long ago discovered that drivers always responsible for over 80 per cent of road crashes, while mechanical and environment accounted for just 20 per cent.
The FRSC boss implored motorists to ensure that their vehicles were in proper condition before embarking on any journey. "Whoever driving under influence of alcohol or drugs, recklessly and with faulty vehicles on the road is endangering the lives of other road users and liable to be prosecuted in accordance with traffic laws. FRSC will not have mercy on any erring drivers floating traffic rules and regulations during the festive period," he said.
In his welcoming address, the Ogere Unit Commander, ACC Oluwatoyin Ogunlana, said the important of the gathering was meant to flag off this year’s ember month campaign themed: ’Drive Safe, Stay Safe’’.
"I use this significant moment to appreciate our host, Idi-Oro Motor Park Ode Remo for receiving the Command unreservedly. Be it known today that the choice of this venue for ember month campaign flag off was strategic. More so, your accommodating spirit towards FRSC programmes is well noted.
"It is customary for virtually all FRSC formations across the country to organise ember month campaign flag off to usher them into flurry of activities that have been designed to ensure safety of lives and property on Nigerian roads particularly during the month of December. This month, as we all know, is a month characterised with increase in intensity and volume of vehicle and human movements on the highway. The reason for this is not farfetched. This is a period when individuals redouble their efforts with a view to making more money and enjoy themselves during the festivities.
"Considering the various opportunities the festive period avails, safe driving is often treated with recklessness by the commercial drivers and other road users alike, hence, the theme; ‘’Drive Safe, Stay Safe’’.
"It is a state of mind when you and I are expected to be Safety Conscious by driving road worthy vehicles, avoiding drunk driving, wrongful overtaking, over speeding, overloading, indiscriminate parking, and giving consideration to other road users amongst others.
"Staying Safe guarantee the safety of all road users and reduce Road Traffic Crashes (RTC) to the bearest minimum. Every individual sited here has specific responsibility towards ranking Nigeria among the 20 safest countries in the world, and this have been documented in NRSS earlier endorsed and approved for implementation of all service providers.
However, road safety is a collective responsibility of all, whether as a driver, passenger, motorcyclist, bicyclist or pedestrian on one side and other various agencies of government, private sectors, traditional institutions, religious bodies, the media, including every citizen on the street on the other side, that we have specific tasks towards effective road safety management in Nigeria," he said.
ACC Ogunlana disclosed the RTC that have occurred within the Command jurisdiction between January to December 2020
LOCATION
ISARA SAPADE FIDIWO
NO OF RTC 17 9 3
PPL INVOLVED 80 35 25
PPL INJURED 45 20 9
PPL KILLED 20 7 7
He explained that "the analysis shows that more RTCs occurred at Isara. It is also observed that most of these RTCs occur very close to Straight gate College, Isara. It’s very much appalling to note that RTC occurrence at this Isara end is quite disturbing. We at FRSC wishes to appeal for a conscious strategy that will see to reduction of RTC at these location which is one of the reasons why the flag off is brought to these location.
"On this premise, it is my sincere desire that each of us here today will go back to our various destinations with a greater sense of understanding and urgency targeted towards ensuring that safe driving becomes a way of life and its gospel well propagated," he concluded.
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