The Ogun State Emergency Management Agency (OGSEMA), in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), yesterday engaged members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in a one-day workshop on traffic rules aimed at preventing road crashes during the rainy season.
The Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Mrs Olufunmilayo Efuwape, speaking at the workshop themed “Public Sensitisation on Road Accidents”, emphasised that most road crashes during the season were caused by drivers failing to obey traffic rules.
Efuwape explained that the state government decided to engage members of the NURTW through the workshop in order to prevent untimely deaths from road accidents, especially during the rainy period.
Represented by the Acting Director of OGSEMA, Mr Soji Durojaiye, she urged motorists to take precautionary measures by obeying safe driving rules and avoiding behaviours that could endanger lives.
She added that the state government remained committed to safety, as shown by the number of roads rehabilitated and reconstructed across the state, warning that such efforts would be wasted if drivers failed to adhere to traffic rules.
“It is only a cautious driver who commences his journey from a particular location and gets to his final destination safely that can best be described as a driver, and one sure way of achieving this is obeying traffic rules, particularly those on speed limits at all times,” the Commissioner said.
The FRSC Sector Commander, Akinwumi Fasakin, represented by the Corps’ Head of Operations, Dr Adelaja Ogungbemi, noted that many road crashes occur during the rainy season mainly due to drivers’ carelessness.
“It will not be out of place for drivers to always park by the roadside when they get to flooded areas of the road, especially when rain is falling, and wait to allow the rain to subside before proceeding on their journey,” he advised.
Also speaking, the Director of the Ogun State Fire Service, Abdulfatai Adefala, urged drivers to ensure that their vehicles are equipped with functional fire extinguishers that could be useful in emergencies.
Two participants, Kabiru Sobajo and Towolawi John, speaking on behalf of others, expressed gratitude to the state government for the workshop.
They described the sessions as engaging and invaluable, promising to share the knowledge gained with other drivers.
