The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ebonyi State on Saturday began its ember months road safety awareness campaign.
The campaign tagged: “The Change We Need on Our Roads” took place in the Azuiyiokwo Motor Park, Abakaliki.
The Sector Commander, Mr Taiwo Eseyin, said on the occasion that the exercise was in response to the challenges of the ember months to road users in Nigeria.
“As part of our efforts at tackling the menace of road crashes during the period, the corps has mapped out Crash Prevention and Enforcement Strategies for the ember months.
“Emphasis is on attitude of our road users to show the highest sense of discipline and avoid any act that could lead to their contravention of traffic rules,” he said.
According to him, drivers should desist from excessive speeding, overloading, wrong over taking, use of phones while driving, drunken driving and other offences.
“The importance of fastening our seat belt cannot be overemphasised as it helps to cushion the fatality rate of road crashes.
“The fight against road crashes needs a collective effort and we therefore, implore all stakeholders and sister agencies to continue partnering with us,” he said.
In his remarks, Chief Anthony Ewa, the Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Ebonyi pledged continued sensitisation of its members on safe driving.
“This is the end of the year, a period that is characterised by hasty travels to buy all sorts of items which increase human and vehicular traffic.
“Road users should understand that there is no juju or blood-sucking spirits on our roads but the high rate of accidents are caused by our recklessness,” he said.
Ewa appealed to the FRSC to caution its officers against pursuing traffic offenders with their vans because of its inherent dangers.
“They should instead pick the numbers of the offenders and report to our office nationwide if our members are involved, as appropriate actions would be taken against those defaulters,” he said.
A civil servant, Mrs Oluchi Ifediba, who witnessed the occasion commended the FRSC’s initiative.
She also called on the governments to rehabilitate their respective roads to curb the carnage occasioned by potholes.