Ember Month Campaign: FRSC cries out, reveals how irresponsible motorists violate traffic rules

….Human factors cause of more than 80% road crashes – CRC Ekwo

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Lagos State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps has said Nigerian motorists – commercial and private fondly exhibit high level of irresponsibility by their none adherence to traffic rules and regulations.

The revelation was made by the State Sector Commander, Mr. Babatunde Farinloye, at the flag-off of the corps’ “2023 Ember Months Campaign” in Ikotun, Igando-Ikotun Local Council Development Area of Alimosho.

Farinloye who was ably represented by the Head of Operations Lagos State FRSC, Deputy Corps Commander Lucas Oguntade, regretted that the nonchalant attitude of most motorist who exceed the approved speed limit of 100 kilometres per hour has brought much sorrow and agony.

DCC Oguntade speaking at the event

Dwelling on the theme of this year’s campaign: “Speed Thrills but Kills: Drive Responsibly and Avoid Overloading” he decried situations where most motorists in Lagos are very careless to their lives and to the life of other road users.

He stated that it has become pertinent for motorists to caution themselves, take precautions to avoid being victims of ghastly motor accident where their loved ones would wished them died rather than surviving into a wretched life.

He aligned with other speakers who opined that recklessness is not limited to commercial drivers, however more pronounced in private drivers, company drivers and quite often in uniformed men.

“FRSC is not relenting in taking the safety campaign to the door step of all calibers of Nigerians.

Cross section of Special Marshals at the flagging off event at Ikorun

“We are not unaware that there are some individuals who do not visit motor parks from year to year, even when we embark on visit to motor parks on early hours “Safety Cry” we may not come across such persons.

“We have such avenues in place as “Free Safety Check”, through which we get across to everybody, be you a doctor, banker, lawyer, etc. it’s a period that comes up once a week in every quarter of the year, we dedicate such to free safety check.

“we also visit cooperate offices, LGAs, General Hospitals, Banks. We engage people, and in various small groups. Beyond that, most of you must have come across us in various churches and mosques,” he declared.

Olusegun, Oguntade and Ekwo

He enjoined Special and Regular Marshalls, other sister agencies as (Police, LASTMA, VIO, LSNC), various organizations and road transport unions not to relent that safety is the responsibility of everyone.

In his address, Unit Commander, Ikotun Unit Command(RS2.113), Chief Route Commander Emmanuel Ekwo, stated that FRSC is not all about checking validity or otherwise of drivers’ license which is enforcement, but enlightenment, clearing of obstructions and rescue operations.

He emphasized that 80 per cent of road accidents are caused by human factors. Which include use of phones on wheels, alcohol, expired/ worn out tyres and poor vehicle maintenance.

CRC Ekwo

Night traveling he said should be condemned in it’s entirety, admonished motorists and commuters to always plan their trips quite ahead rather than being chocked up in time.

Ekwo, advised potential drivers to always pass through driving schools to enable them acquire the prerequisite qualification needed to be called a driver.

“Drivers are road professors, though driving schools help one to obtain drivers’ license, they qualify potential drivers along the vision of FRSC to the realization of accident free society.

He stated that FRSC has increased response time to about five minutes, “we stay at strategic points to respond promptly in case of accidents. We have increased response time to about 5 minutes. We call it RTC. I know the quicker the response time, the higher the chances of victims getting medical attention, which results to higher rates of survival.

FRSC Ikotun Unit Drama Team performing at the event

“As drivers, resist loaders stampeding you into overloading your vehicles. Never over speed because when you over speed, in time of emergency, it becomes difficult for you to bring it under control. Avoid dangerous overtaking, reckless driving and use of phones.

“Most times, we attribute certain inabilities to economic downturn, where is the place of economy in one taking one way(opposite direction)?
How does economy affect you when you are driving and using phone?

“In a u- turn you are supposed to use two hands on the steering but you have one hand on phone, where is the place of economy then?” Ekwo queried.

Olusegun

The Coordinator, Lagos FRSC- Special Marshal Pastor Akintan Olusegun, said there’s no difference from ember month and other months, only that it’s the period people put so much stress on their vehicles, and on the road because most of the things they were unable to achieve between January and October, they want to get them done between November and December.

“Our sensitization is not limited to commercial drivers, but to each an everyone of us that drives. As such, I want us to be sensitive.
“Not only on our vehicles and roads, but also to obey traffic controllers who are placed on the road to checkmate and assist us to safer ways.

DSP Ugobor at the event

“They are not there on their own accord, they are there because the authorities love us and wouldn’t want us to be involved and perish in crashes.

“By the time we obey the little rules, authorities, markings and signs on the roads we will escape crashes,” he said.

Speaking, the Executive Chairman, Igando/Ikotun LCDA, Comr. Lasisi Ayinde Akinsanya, frowned at drivers who drink and drive which he said is prevalent this days with private drivers especially those young men who have stumble on wealth.

Hon. Olayinka, representative of Igando/Ikotun LCDA Chairman

The chairman who was represented by Hon. Wahab Olayinka said Road safety is not business of only FRSC, VIO, Police and LASTMA.

” If you want to drive please don’t drink, if you want to drink, please don’t drive. This is for our good.

“Some private car owners are more unlawful than public drivers, they are part of our problems. They lack manners. always drunk. They carry bottles and sachets of alcohol with them. Our marshals, our officers, you need to look also in the direction of private sector drivers,” the chairman said.

Ogunleye, Chairman Ikotun NURTW

Chairman of the National Union of Road Transportation Workers(NURTW) Ikotun chapter Mr, Sunday Ogunleye, He cautioned drivers on driving against traffic(One way) which he said the state chairman Alhaji Musiliu Akinsaya frowns at.
Regretted that major culprits of traffic infractions on Lagos roads are mostly private car drivers who do not have experience.

Some of the participants at the event

Goodwill messages were given by the Police, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority(LASTMA). Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC), Driving School Operators, Union of Transport & Quary Employers of Nigeria.

On road show at Ikotun

Some secondary schools and cooperate organizations participated in the flagging off programme held at Dominion Ways High School Ikotun immediately after road show campaign that took the unit round the major highways in Ikotun on convoy consisting of dispatch riders and other vehicles, sensitizing the people through a vehicle mounted public address system.

Alalade Nasri, Organizing Committee Chairman giving vote of thanks