NNPC/Chevron, FRSC, launch Child Safety Campaign in Ondo

In a bid to promote child passenger safety on the highway and Nigerian roads at large, Chevron Nigeria Limited has advocated for the training of children as “Road Safety Champions” and to serve as enlightenment agents among peers and older road users. The General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs of Chevron, Mr. Deji Haastrup, said this in Akure on Thursday during the 2016 edition of the Arrive Alive Road Safety Initiative (AARSI) Child Safety Program, lamenting that children are often times susceptible to road accidents.

“Globally, very few activities are designed to impart information that will actually help to save human lives, especially the lives of young children. In this country, the growing number of road accidents is alarming; and this does not take into account the ‘near misses’ road users face every day, and which also can eventually result in serious accidents.” The program titled: “Click it: why risk it?” was berthed by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in collaboration with AARSI but sponsored by Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation and Chevron Joint Venture to raise 100 road safety champions among primary school pupils in Ondo State.

Haastrup disclosed that the program, which has spread to Abuja, Lagos, Delta, Rivers, Ondo and Imo states, was initiated in 2011 to forestall the reoccurrence of a fatal, multiple accident along Lekki-Epe road in Lagos state involving seven vehicles and 19 persons, that led to the death of four school children in a bus.

According to him: “The incentive of this campaign is to promote road safety best practices, expand program even further to benefit other children in other states, train children on pedestrian safety, Zebra Crossing; explain the importance of the use of car seats, booster seats and seat belts; and ultimately reduce road safety fatalities especially as it affects children.” Quoting the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), he explained that there are three major causes of road accidents, namely: human factor (road users), road defects and vehicle defects.

“Human factor, which includes human error, over-speeding, perilous overtaking, alcohol and drug abuse, driver distraction such as speaking on cell phones and poor driving standard are said to account for as much as 92% of road accidents in African and Asian countries. “This means that when we reduce the level of accidents caused by human factors, we would reduce the level of accidents caused by human factors, we would reduce the level of accidents in general. This is why this training is designed to address the human factor.”

The GM mentioned that the oil company is working with AARSI to organize a motorcycle driving safety campaign for 200 motorcycle operators soon in Akure metropolis, where the participants will be given free helmets, urging every member of the society to take road safety as personal responsibility. “We all have to take ownership of safety. Taking action requires affirmative action towards advocating best road safety practices. Taking action is about taking ownership. Recognizing the existence of a major problem and making a conscious effort to address it,” he said.

The Executive Secretary of AARSI, Mr. Ike Okonkwo lectured the pupils on the whole gamut of road safety guidelines and precautionary measures, urging them not to seat at the front seat if they are below 12 years. Okonkwo warned the new 100 Road Safety Champions to look left, right and left again before crossing the road, and must not sit in the car without using the seat belt. He lamented that reports confirmed that it is only the children that often ride unstrapped. The FRSC Sector Commander of the state command, Mr. Edward Zamber noted that the campaign hinges on community partnership, which also gives the parents and guardians germane roles to play in the society.

He pledged to always “commit more efforts to ensuring that our roads are safe in this state.” Zamber, who chipped in that riding in the vehicle is not a pleasure but risk, said while explaining road signs, that “green in Nigeria context doesn’t mean go; in our Nigeria, it means go when the road is clear,” referring to the recklessness of other road users. The Commissioner for Transport, Nicholas Tofowomo, lauded the initiative and informed that it is in line with the Free School Bus Shuttle program initiated by Governor Olusegun Mimiko four years ago to reduce road accident among Ondo State students.

Tofowomo, who disclosed that there are 90 buses transporting 53, 974 students daily, declared support for the AARSI programme and showed willingness from the state government to partner with the initiators to make the program more elaborate in the state. The commissioner identified poor enforcement of extant laws as the major cause of accidents on the roads. He tasked all stakeholders and road safety agencies in the state to conscientiously implement all existing laws to ensure that the road is safe for all road users.