Ember months: FRSC stages motorcade against dangerous driving in Oyo

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Oyo State Command, on Wednesday staged a motorcade on the major roads in Ibadan metropolis to sensitise the public to the consequences of dangerous driving.

The motorcade was part of the command’s 2024 Ember months activities lined up to achieve a significant reduction in road traffic crashes during 2024 festivities.

The FRSC Sector Commander in Oyo state, Mrs Rosemary Alo, said the programme was organised to sensitise passengers on the need to take up responsibility and be more vigilant while in transit.

Alo said the theme of 2024 campaign was: “Speak-up Against Dangerous Driving; Crashes Kill More Passengers than Drivers.”

She said the command had identified black spots and dangerous routes and was working with relevant government agencies to minimise road crashes, especially during 2024 festivities.

Alo urged passengers not to keep quiet or be complacent when a driver drives recklessly.

She added that passengers could download an App on the official FRSC website to conveniently report drivers misconducts.

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She said that the command would deploy more officers on the roads to reduce traffic during festivities when the road would witness heavy vehicular movement.

Earlier, Mr Shehu Mohammed, FRSC Corps Marshal, said the corps had intensified efforts to ensure a safer motoring environment nationwide.

Mohammed noted that the corps had reassessed the state of road safety and traffic management in Nigeria, with a focus on reviewing and improving its strategies in all fronts.

“These new policies aim to not only enhance the road transportation sector by changing drivers’ behaviour but also to position Nigeria as a safety-conscious nation in the global community.

“As part of this, we have revised our public education strategy, introducing new dynamic approaches. These include mega town hall meetings, motorcades, transit, rest areas, and loading bays advocacy.

“This strategy arose from the need to engage passengers and encourage them to assert their rights, thereby curbing drivers’ excesses, because it is on record that more passengers are killed in road traffic crashes than drivers.

“To implement this approach, we are focusing on re-educating passengers and helping them understand their rights.

“Passengers have the right not to be injured, killed, harassed, or have their rights violated. By empowering passengers, we aim to reduce road traffic crashes,” he said.

He described the task of ensuring a safer motoring environment in Nigeria as a crucial and collective responsibility.

“Relevant stakeholders in road transportation sector are invited to work together with the corps to address road carnage,” he said.