By Douglas Okoro
Abakaliki – The Ebonyi Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property of road users during the ’ember period.
The Sector Commander, Mrs Stella Uchegbu, at a briefing with journalists on Friday in Abakaliki, said that the command had launched the 2017 end of the year sensitisation campaigns aimed at creating awareness among motorists and other road users.
She urged motorists to drive with caution and shun acts that could endanger their lives and the lives of the passengers.
According to her, the theme of the 2017 end of the year road crash awareness campaign is “Your right to Life on the Highway is not Negotiable”.
She warned motorists to desist from using worn-out tyres as records had shown that it is a major contributor to road crashes in the country.
The sector commander said that safety on the highways during the ’ember months was a collective responsibility of all road users.
‘‘Safety on our roads require is our collective responsibility and we all have one role or the other to play in reducing crashes.
“We must learn to drive to stay alive and hence must adhere to road safety precautions and shun all forms of compromise that could result in road accidents.
“We have increased our patrol and surveillance and have also identified accident flash points in the state.
“We are also interfacing with officials and members of road transport unions to explore ways to effectively reduce road crashes in the state this ember period.”
The sector commander implored all road users to be cautious and warned drivers to desist from overloading, speeding and drinking while driving, to ensure the safety of all passengers.
She further advised road users to pay attention to road traffic signs while urging drivers to ensure proper maintenance of their vehicles before embarking on any journey and adherence to the normal speed limit.
‘’We urge motorists, especially commercial drivers, to constantly service their vehicles before embarking on any trip.
She further urged drivers to regularly use their seat belts and desist from receiving calls while driving.