Nothing supernatural about ember months, most crashes cause by driver's disobedience to traffic rules --- FRSC

 Nothing supernatural about ember months, most crashes cause by driver's disobedience to traffic rules--- FRSC

Safety

By Kazeem Akande

Lagos, Oct. 8, 2021(NAN) The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has warned the motorist against dangerous driving as nothing was supernatural about ember months saying crushes were caused due to motorists disobedience to traffic rules and regulations.

Mr Oluyemi Adewumi, the Acting Unit Commander Ikeja gave the disclosure on Friday during the official ember months flag off safety campaign to the motorists at Kogi motor parks, Mangoro, Ikeja Lagos.

"The truth is that nothing is supernatural about ember months, most of the road crashes are caused due to disobedience to traffic rules and regulations by road users and transporters.

The ember months are period characterised by unusually increased socio-economic activities which engender heavy surge of vehicular movements.

"As direct consequence, this period is always associated with increased road traffic crashes, fatalities and road congestions which over the years strengthened the false misconceptions and myths regarding road traffic and safety during this months," he said.

According to him, under this complex traffic situation, most motorists throw cautions to the wind with dire consequences to humanity.

Adewumi the Superintendent Route Commander, said that the theme for 2021 ember months campaign was strategic as the corps was striving to blare the message loudly and deeply into the minds of commercial transport operators.

"This speaks to the reality of two identified critical risk factors of road traffic crashes as evidenced in trend analysis of motoring experience during the ember months in the recent years.

"These twin issues are excessive speed and night travelling and available statistics indicated that a good number of commercial vehicles in 2020 was recorded to have involved in road traffic crashes of varying degree," he said. 

The acting unit commander added that speeding has been identified as the leading causative and aggravating factors in over 90 per cent of road crashes.

He however appealed to the motorists not to see the safety campaign as usual ceremony but an opportunity to reawaken the minds of various stakeholders on the roads to ensure free crashes at the ember months.

Chief Bolaji Fatai, the Chairman Mangoro Trailer Park in his remarks during the safety campaign appreciated the usual sensitisations of the drivers by the FRSC.

Fatai said that his members would ensure that all the laid down traffic rules and regulations were followed during their ember months trips.

"This programme is welcome development to enlighten the motorists at this critical period on safety.

"I assure the FRSC that all the rules and regulations on the roads will be complied with by our members to ensure crashes free at this ember months," he said.

Mr Lawal Adamson, the Chairman National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Kogi Park Mangoro Ikeja in his remarks also urged the members to abide by the traffic rules when travelling.

Adamson advised his union members to ensure their vehicles were in good conditions before embarking on the long journey.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of this year 2021 ember months safety campaign was tagged: 'Maintain Safe Speed, Avoid Night Driving and Enjoy Quality Road Experience'.