ENUGU- Mrs Uche Okolie, Commander, Nsukka Unit Command of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), has advised motorists to avoid the temptations of over-speeding during the yuletide because it kills.
Okolie gave the advice in Nsukka on Friday during the “2023 Ember Months Zero Operation flag-off” to sensitise and educate motorists and other road users in the area on safety.
The Theme of the event was “Excessive Speeding Thrills but Kills, Drive Responsibly and Avoid Over-speeding”.
The Commander said that studied had shown that over-speeding, alcohol intake and other human factors contributed 80 per cent of total Road Traffic Crashes (RTC) in the country.
“Human and Mechanical factors are the other causes of road crashes.
“Among them, human factors, like over-speeding, taking of excessive alcohol, reckless driving and others contribute 80 per cent of RTC.
“To reduce the number of road crashes to the barest minimum, the temptations of over-speeding should be avoided because it kills and is responsible for majority of accidents in our roads,” she said.
Okolie explained that the FRSC had been holding park rallies, public enlightenment at petrol stations, free education and training of drivers as well as going to churches and mosques for advocacy, aimed at reducing road crashes.
“Because of this commitment by FRSC in Enugu State, the third quarter of 2022 road traffic crashes in the state was 159 but went down to 59 in the third quarter of this year, 2023.
In Nsukka area, RTC in third quarter of 2022 was 19 crashes and in third quarter of this year it dropped to 7.
“This shows a serious reduction as a result of education and sensitisation of motorists by FRSC in Enugu State.
“We have been telling drivers to avoid taking drugs or alcohol before or during driving so as to reach their destinations with their passengers safely.
“We also advised them to ensure that their vehicles are road worthy before embarking on any journey, by checking their tyres, brakes, and other things that can cause accidents on the road,” she said.
According to the Commander, officers and men would be deployed in major roads and highways in the area during the yuletide to ensure that motorists obeyed road traffic rules and regulations.
“We will not hesitate to impound any vehicle found over-speeding, being driven recklessly or is not road worthy,” she said.
Okolie commended Mr Sokunbi Adeyemi, Enugu State Sector Commander of the FRSC, for his commitment to the welfare of workers as well as his efforts towards achieving zero TRC in the state.
Speaking, Chief Emeka Ugwuede, Vice Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), in Nsukka Local Government Area, commended the commission for the event and assured that commercial motor drivers in the area would continue to abide by all traffic rules and regulations to ensure safety on the road.
In a remark, Chief Walter Ozioko, the Chairman, Nsukka Local Government, represented by the Vice-chairman, Mr Sylvester Asogwa, urged drivers to always abide by the traffic rules for their safety and that of their passengers.
Ozioko assured that the council would continue to collaborate and assist FRSC to achieve its vision of zero crash on the road.
“I commend men and officers of the FRSC for their dedication to duty, as statistics available in the state has shown serious reduction in road crashes,” he said.
Also speaking, Prof. Ezichi Ituma, Coordinator, FRSC Special Marshal in Nsukka, urged drivers to avoid over speeding, as well as advised passengers to always call drivers to order whenever they are over speeding.
Ituma advised passengers to disembark from the vehicle if the driver failed to heed their advice and report such a driver to appropriate authorities for sanction.
Mr. Hassan Yahaya, Commander, Nsukka Police Area Command, His Royal Highness, Igwe Emeka Ugwu, the Traditional Ruler of Owere Nsukka Community, were among dignitaries present during the event. (NAN)
