Ember Months: FRSC moves to reduce road crashes nationwide

 

By Ibironke Ariyo

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has intensified its efforts to ensure smooth traffic flow, reduce road crashes, and create a safer motoring environment.

The FRSC Corps Marshal, Malam Shehu Mohammed said this during a press briefing to Flag off the 2024 ember months Campaign in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Tuesday in Abuja.

The theme of the event is ‘Speak up against dangerous driving: Crashes kill more passengers than Drivers’.

Represented by the FRSC FCT Sector commander, Mr Chorrie Muta’a, the FRSC boss disclosed that the measure was part of a comprehensive strategy to curb road crashes and fatalities during the ember months.

Mohammed said “you are all aware that the ember months mark a time when Nigerians travel extensively across the country.

According to him, this is largely due to the season’s significance, which provides opportunities for family reunions, festivals, meetings, and ceremonies.

“As a result, our roads typically experience heavy traffic, congestion, road crashes, and regrettably, the loss of lives and properties.

“This situation is worsened by the reckless behaviours of some motorists, creating a distressing environment for travelers, government agencies, and stakeholders, including the FRSC.

“In the light of this, the Corps has intensified its efforts to ensure smooth traffic flow, reduce road crashes, and create a safer motoring environment nationwide.

“To achieve this, I have directed the immediate commencement of mega public enlightenment, sensitisation campaign in all states, including FCT while enforcement has been placed on red alert,”he said.

The FRSC boss said that the Corps had reassessed the state of road safety and traffic management in Nigeria, with a focus on reviewing and improving our strategies in all fronts.

Mohammed said that these new policies aimed to not only enhance the road transportation sector by changing drivers’ behaviour but also to position Nigeria as a safety-conscious nation in the global community.

He said “these efforts are being made despite the significant challenges the Corps faces as the government agency responsible for road safety.

“As part of this, we have revised our public education strategy, introducing new dynamic approaches.

“These include mega town hall meetings, motorcades, transit, rest areas, and loading bays advocacy.

“This strategy arose from the need to engage passengers and encourage them to assert their rights, thereby curbing drivers’ excesses, because it is on record that more passengers are killed in road traffic crashes than drivers.

“Hence the need to take up the responsibility of being more vigilant while on transit,” he said.

The FRSC Corps Marshal said that the core of this approach was the alarming number of road traffic crashes in Nigeria, which claimed many lives adding that various factors contributed to these crashes.

Mohammed maintained that driver’s behaviour and passengers indifference to reckless driving were major contributors to road crashes in the country.

“To implement this approach, we are focusing on re-educating passengers and helping them understand their rights.

“The agreement between the driver and the passenger is clear: the driver must ensure the passenger reaches their destination safely. Passengers have a right not to be injured, killed, harassed, or have their rights violated.

“By empowering passengers, we aim to reduce road traffic crashes.

” Commanding Officers have been directed to actively engage commuters, ensuring they are familiar with safety regulations, report reckless driving, use seatbelts, and support responsible driving.

“Passengers must avoid distractions and contribute to safe road use. This is because, often times than not, passengers are the most affected in the event of traffic crashes, hence the need for them to start speaking up,” he said.

The FRSC boss assured the people that the Corps would be fully committed to its responsibility of educating all road users believing that by empowering them with the right knowledge, the Corps could reduce RTCs, injuries, and fatalities.

He emphasised that the task of ensuring a safer motoring environment in Nigeria was a crucial and collective responsibility.

He called on relevant stakeholders in road transportation sector to work together with the Corps to address road carnage.

He said “motorists are expected to take full responsibility of their actions and inactions on the road by maintaining their vehicles, obeying traffic laws, and other road regulations.

“We must take proactive steps to provide hope, not fear, when using our roads as the consequences of our actions or inactions will be severe if we fail to address these challenges,”he said.

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