The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has parleyed stakeholders on the need to reduce carnage on the highways during the Ember months.
The Acting Unit Commander, RS2, 29, Ogunmakin (Km 27), Philip Gogoni, in his presentation at the Stakeholders Town Hall meeting and flag-off of the Ember months campaign at McPherson University, Ajebo on Wednesday, raised concern over the increasing rate of carnage on the highways, especially along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
Gogoni stated that the theme of the 2024 campaign, “Speak Up Against Dangerous Driving; Crashes Kill More Passengers Than Drivers,” underscored the fact that passengers have a critical role to play in reducing the reported crashes on the highways.
He submitted that the ratio of passengers who lost their lives in road mishaps is higher than that of drivers, hence the need for passengers to speak up against reckless driving.
According to him, “There is nothing inherently different about these months compared to other months of the year. In most situations, the menace of Road Traffic Crashes (RTC) on the road is nothing far from the poor attitude of road users toward a safe driving culture.
“However, along this busy traffic corridor, the volume of vehicular movement significantly increases due to growing human activities during December, and this is a contributory factor leading to an increase in RTC on our roads.”
“Many road users do not pay much attention to safe driving culture, and this is one of the most important requirements to avert crashes. The real concern of the FRSC today lies in our attitudes toward road safety culture. During this period, unprofessional drivers and those driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs become more prevalent, often fuelled by the festive season, posing serious risks on the roads.
“In fact, a notable aspect here is that road traffic crashes continue to claim countless lives globally, and Nigeria is no exception. Recent data from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Road Traffic Crashes in Ogun State for 2023 and 2024 highlights a concerning trend: passengers account for a significantly higher proportion of fatalities compared to drivers.
“Majority of these incidents occurred along the heavily trafficked Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, underscoring the need for targeted interventions to enhance road safety.
“The theme of this year’s campaign was chosen to emphasise the power and responsibility of passengers to actively confront dangerous driving behaviours. Research has shown that speaking up against unsafe practices can significantly reduce crashes. It is imperative to understand that road traffic crashes are not isolated incidents; they leave profound scars on individuals, families, communities, and the nation’s socioeconomic fabric.”
Also, in his address, the sector commander RS2.2 Ogun State, OA FASAKIN, who was represented at the occasion by DCC SD ABDULLAHI, emphasised the reason why safety is a collective responsibility for all.
He encouraged everyone to speak against dangerous driving, submitting that this is the only means to reduce carnage on highways.
Speaking in the same vein, the Acting Registrar of McPherson University, Rev. Olufemi Adebowale, called for the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders in a bid to reduce accidents on the highway.
According to him, “Ensuring safety on our roads is our collective responsibility.”
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