Yuletide: FRSC begin “ember” month campaign

Road users, especially commercial drivers have been sensitized on positive measures to curb road mishaps during the 2019 “ember” months.

The sensitization campaign was led by the Imo state Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps, RS 9.4, Mr. Owoimaha Udoma on Monday at Mbaise Road motor part along Egbu Road, Owerri, capital of the State.

Speaking at the event, the Sector Commander said that the quarter of every month was usually a period of festivities, adding that there was a dire need for the campaign to curb road mishap.

He said, “The fourth quarter of every year is usually a period of festivities and family re-union with its attendant upsurge in the movement of persons and goods. The need for sensitization is therefore apt by Federal Road Safety Corps to sensitize road users on the good use of roads and need to save lives of a lot of travelers during that period. It is imperative to sensitize and campaign for all road users to be alert and safety- conscious during the yuletide month”.

Stressing on the theme of the 2019 years “ember” month campaign, “Road Safety is a state of the Mind; Road Traffic Crash is an Absence of Mind: Stay Alert, Stay Alive”, Udoma admonished the travelers on the need to plan their journey.

The Sector Commander, however, admonished against careless travels adding that gone were the days when people failed to think about their journey and never planned for it.

He regretted that the Corps had annually published the number of accidents stating the numbers of those who had died and those who had sustained injuries.

He noted that some of the road casualties were a result of reckless and aggressive conduct of the road users. “Road traffic crashes are among the leading causes of death and life-long disabilities among people seen with disabilities features”, he added.

He further said that 2018 global statics reported that 1.35 million people died annually on the roads while tens of millions sustained various types of injuries.

“The statics from FRSC shows that speed-related crashes are the major causes of death and injuries on our roads”.

He disclosed that the Federal Road Safety Corps was currently enforcing the installation of speeding-limit devices on vehicles plying on roads, beginning with commercial motor vehicles.

In his speech, the Governor of the state, Chief Emeka Ihedioha charged road users especially commercial drivers to always be patient while plying the roads to avoid mishaps.

Ihedioha, who was represented by his Transport Commissioner, Mr. Sly Enwerem however, appealed for through observance of road signs and rules.

He commended FRSC further efforts in ensuring that traffic accident was reduced adding that Imo State Governor would always partner with relevant bodies to promote accident-free yuletide.

In his speech, the Chairman of Mabise Motor Park, Mr. Azuama Onyemelusi, commended FRSC for the campaign and assured that their drivers would be instructed to apply safety rules and measures on the roads. He lamented that bad roads in the state constituted over 40 per cent of road mishaps experienced during the yuletide.

He called on both Federal and state governments to rehabilitate Trunk A and B roads in their states.

A driver, who identified himself as Mr. Solomon Iwuagwu pledged on behalf of the drivers' unions that they would help to ensure that the 2019 yuletide would be accident-free.