KEY POINTS

• In Ember Months campaign, FRSC calls for vigilance, cheer leading to prevent road crashes.
• Traffic accidents are not due to the time of year but because of overloading, speeding and road violations.
• Reducing road fatalities requires passengers to speak up against dangerous driving.

The Ember months period is here again and it is my appeal that all road users should take caution and vigilance to help prevent road crashes, Mr Shehu Mohammed conciliar corps marshall Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said.

Mohammed, who spoke through Dr. Samuel Ibitoye, FRSC Ondo State Sector Commander, at a news briefing in Akure, called on drivers and passengers to work hand in hand with the FRSC in the bid to reduce road accidents.

Responsibility for safe driving

The 2024 Ember Months campaign, themed “Speak Up Against Dangerous Driving: Importantly this article states that crashes kill more passengers than drivers.”

Mohammed said road accidents were not caused because of the year but due to overloading, speeding and other traffic rules violated.

He appealed to drivers to put safety first and send everyone to their final stop safely. Instead of gambling on getting into an accident that will require a trip to the hospital or even lead to fatality.

As such, FRSC has stepped up efforts to smooth traffic flow, place safety regulations in order and protect lives.

Also, the Corps Marshal encouraged passengers to speak up whenever they see reckless driving going on. He pointed out that more passengers are killed than drivers in road accidents.

Safer roads collective action

Stakeholders and road users have been charged with the responsibility of keeping the roads safer. Through maintenance of vehicles and by obeying traffic laws, the FRSC chief said.

According to Vanguard, “Our roads should be a place of hope, rather than one of fear. And for drivers we must all make a concerted effort not to be reckless: it has grave consequences,” Mohammed said.