From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Kogi Sector Command, has raised concern over the recent spike in the occurrence of road traffic crashes along some major routes in the state.
The Sector Commander, CC Solomon Agure, raised the concern in a statement made available to Our Correspondent by FRSC Public Education Officer in Kogi RS8.3, RC Ayodeji Oluwadunsin in Lokoja at the weekend.
According to Agure, the spike in road crashes is owing to the carelessness of some recalcitrant drivers finding it difficult to comply with simple traffic law and orders despite the frantic efforts by corps in combating the bad event, and promote safety of highways across the state.
He explained that the Ember months were not by any chance different from the other months within the year, but rather the excesses of people and their, “I don’t care” attitude.
He stressed that motorists should be blamed for the orchestration of most of the negative influences commonly observed at this period.
He stressed that the corps was making effort to disabuse the public mindset on the wrong notion placed on the months towards the end of the year.
”There is no evil spirit or blood sucking demons anywhere programmed to be crashing vehicles during these months.
”But on the contrary, it is people that needs a change of orientation to put a check on all these avoidable crashes on the highways”, he said.
Agure noted that among other predominant factors metamorphosing into the ugly trends include people’s high desire to meet or cover up for targets which were not planned earlier from the beginning of the year.
He added that the motorists were then tempted to contravene traffic rules and regulations degenerating into notable increment in crashes and their attendants fatalities or injuries.
Agure emphasised the need to adopt discipline as a key to maintaining high standard against anti-safety vices and achieving zero crashes.
He enjoined the people to join hands with FRSC in the war against indiscipline on the roads for all to enjoy quality road experience as we approach end of the year.
The sector comandant emphasised that the need for drivers to imbibe the characteristics and qualities of discipline.
According to him, a disciplined driver don’t drink and drive, avoids speeding excessively, refuses to overload, never drive dangerously, and always obey traffic lights.
He, therefore, urged motorists not to engage in route violation, maintain lane discipline, not using phone while driving, and used safety seat belt while driving.
”Motorists must refuse to overtake wrongfully, reserves consideration for other road users, carries out vehicle’s routine checks and maintenance regularly, resists temptation to break traffic rules and regulations.
”This will ensure that the public have a seamless link with the corps,
He advised the public to feel free to engage all FRSC available platforms such the emergency toll free line: 122, social media platforms to report any case of road Misharps whenever they occur.