Yuletide: FRSC marshal warns against phone calls while driving

Ahead of the Yuletide, Special Marshals unit of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has urged motorists to desist from use of mobile phones while behind the wheels.

This is just as about 12, 000 special marshals have been deployed to Edo, Delta and Anambra states ahead of the Yuletide.

The special marshal gave the piece of advice during the Delta Annual Sectoral Workshop Programme with the theme: “Road Safety is not a Privilege but a Right,” held on Wednesday in Warri, Delta State.

The Delta State Coordinator, Special Marshal, Mr Dickson Amromawhe, in his opening remark, disclosed that more deaths were recorded through road accidents than sicknesses in the country.

Amromawhe, while warning against carnage on roads, said “It is our right to insist that drivers drive safely and everything must be done to achieve this.”

The resource person, Mr Harriman Oyofo advised road users to avoid all forms of distractions while driving on the road.

According to Oyofo, distracted driving referred to anything one does while behind the wheel order than the business of driving.

“The use of mobile phone, eating and doing all manner of things while driving are all forms of distraction.

“Distracted driving kill faster than alcohol, distracted driving is a killer and the young ones are most vulnerable,” he said.

The Sector Commander of FRSC in Delta, Mr Rindom Kumven, earlier in his welcome, disclosed that about 1.3 million people die globally in road accident annually.

He added that road accident was the tenth leading cause of death in the world which called for a serious concern.

“With this worrisome statistics, we have set aside areas of actions we need to work towards.

“They are: improvement on Road Safety management, safer road user, safer vehicles and first class management.

“We need to intensify the enlightenment of road users and we all have a role to play to ensure our roads are designed.

“We have identified some flash points in Delta that we will station our men during this festive season and we will also do a lot of sensitisation,” he said.

The National Coordinator, Special Marshal, Mr Sidi Kwambe, in a message to the people, urged them to intensify campaign on the need for a safer road.

Kwambe was represented by  Dr Raphael Ozekhome, the Deputy National/Zonal Coordinator, Special Marshal.

Highlight of the event was the investiture of honorary special marshals.