UMUAHIA (SUNDIATA POST)- The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), on Tuesday, launched this year’s “Ember” months’ campaign against dangerous driving before and during the Christmas period in Abia.
Speaking at the event in Umuahia, the Abia Sector Commander, Mrs Ngozi Ezeoma, said the campaign would focus on educating the public to speak against irresponsible driving to curb drivers’ excesses.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the event is, “Speak Up against Dangerous Driving: Crashes Kill More Passengers than Drivers”.
Ezeoma said that the campaign focuses on “Ember” months because available data indicates a notable rise in road crashes, injuries, and fatalities during the period due to heavy traffic and poor road use by motorists.
She said that the FRSC had evolved effective strategies to drive it’s campaign on the importance of responsible driving because “crashes kill more passengers than drivers.
“I charge commuters to obey traffic rules, speak up against all forms of dangerous driving.
“I also advise commuters to avoid speed, overloading, use of unsafe tyres, drunk-driving, use of phone while driving, distractions and other unsafe driving behaviours, among other offences,” Ezeoma said.
She expressed the readiness of the command to strengthen safety on the roads through a series of operations with stakeholders and security agencies.
She also said that FRSC would work in conjunction with the State Government to ensure free flow of traffic, curb reckless driving and clear any form of obstructions on the roads.
She emphasised that the command’s enforcement efforts would prioritise monitoring and penalising traffic offenders.
“It is, therefore, indeed a period to remind the motoring public that crashes are avoidable at this period, if we imbibe safe driving habit as ‘Road traffic crashes do not just happen, it is caused’,”she said.
In an address, the Commissioner for Transport, Dr Chimezie Ukaegbu, described the theme of the event as apt and timely.
Ukaegbu said that the government recently constituted a committee to handle traffic management during the Christmas period.
“The state government understands the importance of safety and shows it by ensuring that Abia roads remain motorable and safe for road users,” he said.
He urged the people of Abia to prioritise safety because “safety is everybody’s business”.
In a speech, the General Manager of Abia State Road Traffic and Safety Management Agency, Col. Ezichi Kalu (rtd.), urged motorists to comply with road safety rules.
Kalu commended FRSC for organising an event that would equip road users with the relevant information.
In separate speeches, the Abia Comptroller of Nigeria Correctional Service, Mr Henry Onyenze, and the State Comptroller of Nigeria Immigration Service, Mr Samuel Agba, described the campaign as timely.
They called for the implementation of stiffer sanctions against driver’s that break road safety rules.
Also, the State Commander of Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Mr Adelanwa Adetunji, expressed the agency’s readiness to partner with FRSC to promote the campaign.
Adetunji, who was represented by the Drug Demand Reduction Officer of the agency, Mrs Anu Maurice, called for the inclusion of drug test as a prerequisite for getting drivers licence. (NAN)
