As a measure to reduce road accidents and crashes to the barest minimum on the highways during these ember months, the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC nationwide has commenced sensitisation and enlightenment programme in RS 4.12 Pankshin Unit Command of the corps to educate the motoring public on how to use the road.
The Pankshin Unit Commander, Chief Route Command (CRC), Abdullahi Malkasuwa has said that the need for the FRSC to sensitise and educate drivers at this period in time to be cautious while driving on the highways across the country cannot be underestimated during the ember months.
CRC Maikasuwa while addressing drivers and the public during the FRSC RS4.12 Pankshin Unit Command ember months flag-off campaign on recently, at the Monday Market Square Pankshin, he urged motorists to obey the traffic rules and regulations as well as put their vehicles in good conditions before embarking on any journey.
He added that speeding not only endangers the driver’s life but also the lives of those they share the road with. The ember months are the last months of the year and the months are always characterised with a lot of movements across the cities and across the country. This period also has higher victims of traffic crashes and fatalities which must be avoided.
He further added that overloading of vehicles is common practice that poses a significant threat to safety. Whether it’s passengers or cargo overloading, ensuring that vehicles are within their recommended weight limit, saves lives. He therefore enjoined motorists to shun over-speeding, dangerous overtaking, overloading and they should always use seat belts at all times. “And by doing so, we can collectively make our roads safer and always reduce the risk of road traffic crashes.”
In Pankshin Unit Command and its environs, we are going to take this campaign to all the nooks and crannies to ensure that the drivers and the passengers in the unit command are patient enough during these ember months and to avoid road traffic crashes”, he said.
CRC Maikasuwa listed some common unsafe driving habits, we need to eschew in addition to those earlier mentioned to include lack of adequate maintenance of vehicles, impatience while driving on a busy road, lack of concentration while driving, inadequate knowledge of Nigeria’s highway code, the intake of alcohol, drugs before or while driving. He added that drivers should remember that it’s not just about driving to their destinations but it’s about arriving safely and together we can make a difference and to ensure that these ember months are filled with joy and not sorrow to families.
In his keynote address, Corps Commander, Alphonsus Godwin of the RS 4.1 Plateau State Sector Command, Jos, who was ably represented by CRC Felix Bwoi, the Unit Commander RS 4.11 Langtang Unit Command, said this year’s theme reminds us of the importance of road safety during the upcoming months. Therefore, the FRSC is dedicated to ensuring that the joy and merriment associated with the ember months are not marred by tragedy on the roads.
Over-speeding is the leading cause of road traffic accidents and it is essential that we all take responsibility towards ourselves, our passengers and other road users, he pointed. He therefore advised that drivers must take a conscious effort to avoid reckless driving and over-speeding.
The Transition, Implementation Committee (TIC) Chairman of Pankshin Local Government Council, Hon, Samuel Shanga Go’ar in his remark at the flag-off campaign, ably represented by the Director of Personnel Management (DPM) of the Council, Mr. Zion Chirtau said the Local Government Management appreciates the FRSC Pankshin Unit Command for organising this campaign to sensitise and educate the motorists on the danger of over-speeding, overloading and dangerous overtaking on the highways. He advised motorists and the public that if you must drink, don’t drive and if you must drive don’t drink because it may be very dangerous.
The high point of the occasion was the cutting of tape to mark the official flag – off of 2023 ember months special patron by the TIC Chairman of Pankshin Local Government Council, Hon. Samuel Go’ar.
