Traffic agency cautions motorists on safe driving

The General Manager of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Bolaji Oreagba has cautioned Lagos motorists to be very careful during the ‘ember months’ to prevent avoidable accidents, injury, loss of properties and death.

The LASTMA boss advised Lagos residents and all motorists to avoid acts capable of causing road accidents.

Oreagba in a statement signed by Assistant Director, Public Affairs, LASTMA, Olumide Filade, said the myth is that during ‘ember months, there are spirits hovering in the air to cause accidents.

He noted that what generally happens during these months of the year is that citizens are usually under pressure and in a frenzy to meet targets they set for themselves at the beginning of the year.

LASTMA disclosed that there are three main causes of road accidents, which include human, mechanical and environmental factors.

He said the human factors include ill-health, poor driving behaviour, driving under alcoholic influence, driving against the direction of traffic flow (one-way), use of mobile devices and gadgets, over-speeding, jumping red lights, jumping lanes illegally, road rage, disobeying traffic rules and regulations, wrongful overtaking, failure to use seatbelts and helmets, among others.

Oreagba explained that the mechanical factors include vehicles that are not road-worthy due to bad conditions and poor maintenance, while environmental factors include deplorable state of roads, flooding, lack of streetlights, poor road infrastructure among others.

On Lagos roads, he appreciated the efforts of the government in the rehabilitation and construction of old and new roads. He appealed to motorists to drive carefully among construction sites.