No law against night travelling, we only advise ― FRSC

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has called on motorists to desist from travelling when it is night, as a large number of road traffic crashes recorded in Nigeria were adduced to low vision and tiredness.

The warning came during the 2023 Mega Rally and Sensitisation programme of the Oyo State Sector Command, which was held at the Oja-Agbe Motor Park, Iseyin, Iseyin local government area.

The event where the FRSC Corps Marshal, Dauda Ali Biu was represented by the Head of the Corps’ National Traffic Radio, DCC Honey Ogundayo witnessed an early morning rally by officers of the corps, members of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), public school students and stakeholders from the community.

The Corps Marshal enjoined motorists to shun acts that endanger their lives and the lives of their passengers, as driving when tired and drinking while driving would lead to crashes.

Dauda Ali Biu appreciated the traditional council of the Iseyin community and other stakeholders that cut across, transport organizations, religious leaders among others for supporting the agency to reduce the rate of fatalities from traffic crashes.

“We have come again with the message of hope that we should preserve lives by being careful about the conditions we are in before getting behind the wheel.

“There is no law that forbids night travelling in Nigeria, but if we will be factual, looking at the number of fatalities recorded from night travels, we will continue to advise against people travelling at night, there are many dangers associated with it, the one driving might be tired, the condition of the vehicle might change and nobody to assist at that period of time,” he warned.

Ogundayo, however, informed the general public that the newly-established FRSC radio, called National Traffic Radio could be reached through their phone number, 08052998090 while their toll-free number remained 122 in case of a traffic crash that requires an emergency response by the agency and health officials.

The Sector Commander, RS11.3 Oyo State, Corps Commander Joshua Adekanye spoke on the theme of the programme, which was “Driving tired is as dangerous as driving drunk: avoid night trips, worn out tyres and excessive speed”, charging commercial drivers to take heed of the advice, so as to avoid untimely death and loss of body parts to accidents.

“The choice of Iseyin as host of this mega rally is strategic; Iseyin is a town with a high volume of vehicular movement in Oyo state, linking other towns in Oke-Ogun with Ibadan, the state capital, Iseyin is also the home of farmers, rich in providing various foodstuffs in large quantities for Oyo and neighbouring states in Southwest Nigeria.

“In the last few years, one of the corporate strategic goals of FRSC is to accomplish a reduction in a Road Traffic Crash (RTC) and fatalities, this year’s theme of our sensitization is to call attention to what happens whenever a driver is tired behind the wheel, reactions become slower, ability to make decision and process information is impaired, which make it difficult to judge distances and speeds accurately, so we all must note this.”

The Chairman, Iseyin local government, Hon Mufutau Abilawon in his keynote address, enjoined participants at the programme to make sure their vehicles are roadworthy and abide by the approved speed limits to avoid crashes on the roads.

“I besiege all road users to please pay premium value on human live because it is irreplaceable, I strongly believe that road crashes, if they cannot be stopped, with the right attitude of road users and utmost compliance with the road safety rules, warnings and guidance of the FRSC, they can be reduced to the barest minimum.”

The Ikolaba of Iseyin who represented the traditional council, harped on the need to expedite action on the Iseyin Licensing Office as the local government authority has provided an enabling office with the power supply to facilitate the take-off of the office and save the people of the community the rigours of travelling to Saki and Eruwa to procure their driver’s license.

In his speech, the head of the Oja-Agbe unit of the State’s Park Management System (PMS), Comrade Folaranmi Kazeem, popularly called ‘Awo’, said due to the collaboration by his PMS in Iseyin withFRSC and periodic sensitization efforts given to his members, the rate of road crashes has reduced.

He added that the body has outlawed the sale of alcohol within its parks in the community, making it possible to achieve compliance with the message of driving without drinking alcohol.

Highlights of the event include playlets by the members of the National Youth Corps Service (NYSC) and students of secondary schools on the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol and other vices.