The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has commenced its annual safety campaign in Cross River State, southern Nigeria as part of efforts to safeguard the lives of commuters, motorists and pedestrians.
The Governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Otu, represented by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Elvert Ayambem, flagged off this year’s awareness campaign in Calabar, the capital of the state.
The campaign, which has the theme “Speed Thrills, But it Kills; Drive Responsibly and Avoid Overloading” is targeted at all road users especially those, who would be traveling to spend end-of-year holidays with families and friends.
In his remarks, Governor Otu said that it was the responsibility of motorists to ensure the safety of those on board their vehicles and those of other road users by adhering to speed limits and other traffic laws.
He said, “Speed is often exhilarating, but it comes with a significant risk when it is not managed responsibly. Every time we step behind the wheel, we hold the safety of ourselves, our passengers, and others on the road in our hands.
“Adhering to speed limits and driving within your capabilities is crucial in ensuring that the thrill does not turn into a life-threatening situation. Speed thrills, but it can indeed kill if not approached with caution,” Otu stressed.
Continuing, they noted that driving responsibly also required that motorists avoid the pitfalls of overloading their vehicles with goods or passengers in a bid to make brisk money.
Otu urged, “Overloading places undue strain on a vehicle’s structure, affecting its stability and braking capabilities. This, in turn, increases the likelihood of accidents. Avoiding overloading not only keeps you and your passengers safe, but also helps protect the lives of other road users.
“The roads are a shared space, and our actions while driving impacts everyone around us. To prevent accidents and protect lives, it is essential to drive responsibly, obey speed limits and avoid overloading vehicles,” the governor advised.
Safety Tips
Also, the south-south Zonal Commanding Officer of FRSC, Assistant Corps Marshall Jonathan Owoade said the the 2023 Ember Months campaign as it is often called was an avenue to refresh the memories of road users on the significance of adherence to safety rules and regulations.
Owoade attributed road crashes with attendant deaths and injuries to excessive speed, noting that as the leading agency in road traffic and administration in Nigeria, the corps remained committed to accomplishing its statutory mandate.
He said, “Our message is while you embark on a trip or drive within the town, you are advised to strictly adhere to road traffic rules and avoid night travels, avoid the use of mobile phones while driving, avoid driving against traffic and wrongful overtaking as well as overloading, overspeeding, driving under the influence of alcohol and other substances.
“I employ motorists to avoid reckless driving and driving with worn-out tires; make use of seat belts and child restraints, maintain lane discipline, obey traffic signals and avoid rushing. Strict compliance with these tips will guarantee hitch-free journeys and happy celebrations,” he emphasized.
Earlier, the Cross River Sector Commander, Corps Commander Istifanus Ibrahim noted that the last four months of every year tagged “Ember Months” is characterised by increased human and vehicular movement due to socioeconomic activities.
Ibrahim explained, “The essence of the campaign is to compliment other effective mechanisms deployed to stamp out overloading and speed and other avoidable road traffic crashes this period. By so doing, we strive to achieve the corps corporate strategic goal of 5 percent reduction in road traffic deaths and injuries in Nigeria.”
The flag-off ceremony, which featured Goodwill messages by stakeholders and security agencies, was preceded by a road show around the metropolis particularly to areas densely populated by travel agencies and bus terminals.
Dominica Nwabufo
