The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Wednesday warned motorists against speeding and night travels while inaugurating the 2022 `ember’ months’ campaign at Idiroko in Ogun.
Mr. Ahmed Umar, the Sector Commander in Ogun, who gave the warning, added that it would help to minimize crashes and other dangers on the roads.
The 2022 `ember’ months’ campaign is tagged: “Avoid Speeding, Overloading, and Unsafe Tyre to Arrive Alive”.
Umar, represented by Mr. Akeem Ganiyu, the Sango-Ota Unit Commander of FRSC, noted that the campaign was apt and pertinent, as the awareness was aimed at reducing the prevalence of road crashes, casualties, and deaths.
He said the `ember’ periods are usually associated with higher vehicular and human movements which sometimes lead to crashes and deaths.
The sector commander said that excessive speeding, dangerous driving, and night travels, are the major causes of road crashes in the state.
“The campaign is aimed at reducing crashes and deaths on our major corridors, especially, during the last four months of the year.
“We are appealing to motorists to desist from speeding, dangerous driving, wrongful overtaking, and overloading to stem mishaps on the highways.
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“In addition, they should desist from night travels because over 50 percent of the accidents happened at night.
“When such crashes happened at night, there are always more causalities and deaths because those victims will not be able to get help on time,” he said.
Mr. Akinwunmi Olaluwoye, the Idiroko Unit Commander of the FRSC, in his welcome address attributed most of the accidents during the `ember’ months to attitudinal behaviors of drivers, rather than the evil spirit, as being insinuated by some people.
“Nigerians believe that the `ember’ months are evil months, characterized by road traffic crash occurrences.
“These used to lead to various mishaps on the highways, which often lead to the death of loved ones and sometimes, loss of valuable goods and property.
“There is nothing negative or evil about these months, except that we usually witness a high volume of movement and increase in human activities, occasioned by various ceremonies and largely celebrated festivals such as the Christmas and New Year”, he said.
The unit commander emphasized the need for a robust campaign, targeted at increasing awareness of safe road practices and achieving zero or minimal road accidents.
