As the Federal Road Safety Corps begins its nationwide end of the year campaigns with the theme; ‘Drive Safe and Stay Safe’, the Corps Marshal, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi has called on the motoring public to make the year 2020 ’ember’ months unique and crash-free by adhering strictly to road traffic regulations.
According to him, road traffic crashes are avoidable and road crash-free society is possible when best road practices are applied.
In a statement issued by Bisi Kazeem, the Corps Public Education Officer, the Corps Marshal strongly cautioned motorists that the end of the year is not naturally tragic and are not in any way different from other months of the year, only that there seems to be an increase in vehicular movement witnessed during the season.
Debunking the myth that the last four months of the year are hazardous for motorists, Oyeyemi said it is possible to drive without involving in a crash as long as motorists obey and adhere strictly to traffic laws and ensure constant maintenance of their vehicles.
The statement said in order to guide commuters on the path of safety and minimise the tendencies of crashes and gridlocks, the Corps Marshal issued out some salient travelling and safety advisories to travellers.
“With the rapid infrastructural development going on in the rail transportation sector under the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, commuters are advised to maximise that alternative means of transportation by patronising the train stations where available, as this will drastically reduce the pressure on the road transportation sector.
“The travelling public must start thinking about transport sharing as early as possible, to reduce pressure on the road as this will further reduce the incidences of road traffic crashes. Family and friends are further admonished to plan and travel in phases, so as to avoid the cluster of traffic during the ember months,” the statement said.
On the need to imbibe caution when choosing the vehicles to board especially for long-distance trips, Oyeyemi admonished travellers to patronise safe and secure mass transit companies that have been duly certified to operate.
This according to him, is to make room for redundancy plans in the event of a vehicle breakdown.
He advised against night trips, warning that day travellers must try as much as possible to plan their trips within the hours of the day because of visibility and fatigue factors on the side of the driver.
Oyeyemi also warned that all travelling protocols for COVID-19 must be strictly adhered to, noting that the enforcement on 50% carrying capacity for all vehicles targeted at creating adequate physical distancing, is still in place, and the Corps will not spare any fleet operator caught violating these directives.
“Terminals and parks are expected to double up their efforts in providing adequate running water with soap and sanitisers in their parks and terminals. While maintaining physical distancing, all vehicles must have sanitizer inside them and avoid as much as possible, the use of air conditioner among others,” the statement said.
