‘Ember’ months: Disobedience to traffic rules responsible for road accidents – FRSC

The Federal Road Safety Corps has identified disobedience to traffic rules and regulations by road users as the cause of many of the crashes on Nigerian roads and not the ‘ember’ months themselves.

The Ondo State Sector Commander, Osas Osadebamwen, who made the remark on Wednesday, during the official flag off of 2016 ‘Ember’ months campaign with the theme “Operation Crash the Crash”  in Akure, Ondo State capital, said there was nothing  supernatural about the ‘ember’ months.

Osadebamwen said the programme became imperative in order to demystify the belief among drivers and motorists that the ‘ember’ months are full of accidents but said, “The truth is that nothing is supernatural about the ‘ember’ month road crashes are caused due to disobedience of rules and regulations by road users.”

The FRSC boss noted that the increase in the rate of accidents during the ‘ember’ months, but said increase in socio-economic activities during the period engenders inordinate traffic surge that stretches the road transport system.

He called on drivers to observe the normal speed limit while he advised motorcycle riders against riding without helmets, noting that over 12,000 people lost their lives from motor bike accidents.

The FRSC in collaboration with a nongovernmental organisation, Arrive Alive, donated above 500 helmets to motorcycle riders to guard against untimely deaths.

Speaking during the programme, the State Commissioner for Transport, Nicholas Tofowomo, called on the authorities of the FRSC not to limit the enlightenment programme to the ‘ember’ months.

He noted that over-speeding responsible to most of the accident while drivers should be discouraged from drinking while driving.

He called on the FRSC to enforce the use of seat belts and should be extended to commercial drivers “to protect the lives of motorist and passengers.”