U.S, partners groups on sensitisation of road users on traffic rules

• As FRSC Lekki remembers RTC

The Embassy of the United States of America (USA) in partnership with Greenlight initiative and Lifeline international has cautioned Nigerians on the dangers involved in road traffic accident as end of the year travel congestion approaches.

Speaking in Abuja during a walk to commemorate world Road Traffic Crashes (RTC) victims, the Spokesperson US embassy, Russell Brooks, noted that the US embassy is committed to supporting the effort of groups and organizations that promote safety, security and health of Nigerians.

Brook said that the embassy believes that sensitization on the dangers involved in road traffic accident is very important because too many people had died as a result of avoidable traffic accidents.

His words: “I am here on behalf of the us embassy, for the green light initiative, lifeline and the road safety work today because they are trying to bring a better awareness on the dangers involved in road traffic accidents and the number of people who are killed around the world especially here in Nigeria. We must do anything we can do to promote the awareness.”

Founder Greenlight initiative, Simon Obi disclosed that the country had lost over 5,000 lives to road traffic accidents in the recent past, adding that Greenlight had come to say that the ‘pain is enough’.

“Road users should use the road safety vaccine which is slow down because when you slow down you get to your destination safe and sound. Today is world commemoration for road traffic victims,” he added.

Speaking in same vein, the Founder Lifeline international, Dr. Nkem Momah said that lifeline has been committed to road safety advocacy for over 12 years, adding that lifeline had always offered free ambulance services to road accident victims.

Momah called on the Federal Government and freewill donors to emulate the act by the US embassy and key into the charity work carried out by the organisations.

Meanwhile, the Lekki unit command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has held different programmes to commemorate with the crash victims.

In a statement by the Unit Commander, Azubike Onyemeh, series of activities were lined up starting from Monday 13 – Thursday 19 November, 2017 with the theme “2020 Target: Reduce fatalities and serious injuries by 50 per cent’’.

He stated that the command’s activities held to mark the Day included motor park rally at Ajah Central Motor Park rally and road show along Lekki – Epe expressway, carried out by the Lekki command only.

He added that his command equally made visitation to Safeway hospital at Sangotedo, Juma’at prayer at Ansar – u – deen Central Mosque at Ayetoro, Epe, Lagos (Involving Epe, Island and Lekki Commands), as well as Church service at Redeemed Christian Church, House of Joy Parish, Mechanic Village, Epe, Lagos (Involving Epe, Island and Lekki Commands).

Onyemeh said: “More so, the Corps is passionate in the actualization of her vision to eradicate road traffic crashes. In an attempt to achieve this, the Corps implemented and enforced speed limiting device on the first of February, 2017, this is because statistic has shown that over speeding is the lead cause of RTC in Nigeria.

“The essence of commemorating this day is to remember our mothers, fathers, uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters, and close associates who lost their lives in road traffic crashes without notice, and many are being treated for trauma.

“This simply implies that there is need for every road user to be conscious of his/her safety while on the road, as well as the consequences of RTC. In other words, it is a day to intensify safety awareness on the burden of road traffic collision on individuals, families, communities amongst others.

“Finally RTC is usually caused, and this means that it can be avoided if caution is exercised by every road user. Therefore, strict adherence to traffic rules and regulations by all will reduce road traffic fatalities and serious injuries”.

African Union (AU) Executive Council and the United Nations (UN) Resolution of 26 October, 2005 recognized the 3rd Sunday in November of every year as the World Day Remembrance of RTC victims. This day is set aside for advocacy on prevention of road traffic injuries which WHO encouraged countries in the world to commemorate, and Nigeria through the FRSC has maintained the tradition since then.