FRSC warns politicians against reckless driving during campaigns

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has advised political parties and their members to give respect to and be obedient to traffic rules during political campaigns.

The corps also advised all motorists to stay away from recklessness and over speeding while on the road.

The corps made this call while launching the campaign for ember months in Ondo State on Thursday.

The Zonal Commanding Officer of FRSC,
Mr Uakhemen Ojeamiren, who’s in charge of Oyo, Ondo and Osun states championed the campaign at Ilesha motor park in Akure, the capital of the state.

The theme of the campaign of 2022 ember months is “Avoid Speeding, Avoid Overloading And Unsafe Tyres to Arrive Alive”.

Ojeamiren admitted that the ember months were full of high vehicular movements and more auto accidents because most of the drivers were not patient.

He added that it was important for motorists not to over speed, carry overloads, take alcohol and make use of expired tyres before embarking on journey.

“I am appealing to motorists particularly the people of Ondo state to desist and have attitudinal change while driving to arrive safety during the yuletide.

“Drivers must be conscious while driving and avoid speeding, avoid use of expired tyres and ensure that they have their driving licence with them,” he said.

Ezekiel SonAllah, who’s the Sector Commander, revealed that it was imperative for stakeholders to work hand in hand and to effe safety on the road.

He added that the command had already recorded about 20 per cent auto crashes of the figure recorded within the same period in 2021.

He said 126 road traffic accidents which involve 879 persons occurred during the ember months in 2021.

He also revealed that out of the figure, 148 persons sustained injuries and 96 lost their lives.

“I want to seize this opportunity to appeal to political parties to respect and obey traffic rules and avoid reckless driving during campaigns as only the living rules.

“The command is out to remind you that you can only celebrate when you arrive alive, hence the need for united efforts against wrong use of the road,” he said.

The sector commander revealed that driver who disobey traffic rules would be sanctioned decisively and gave an assurance that the road marshals would continue to put in place measures to secure the lives of road users.

Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who’s represented by Tobi Ogunleye, his Senior Adviser on Transport,  promised more support to the corps to perform its duties.

Akeredolu revealed that the government had founded a driving school to make provisions for orientation and lessons for drivers, to ensure safety of road users.

“We have re-launched the state Passenger Transit Safety Insurance Scheme where every passenger is covered in case of accident for free medical treatment.

“We will continue to construct and rehabilitate more roads, because the lives of our people is more important to us.

“We therefore call on other major stakeholders to join hands with the FRSC to save lives especially on highways,” he said.