‘Rising road crashes during ember months due to reckless driving’

Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has said ember months are not naturally tragic or different from other months of the year but for the increase in the number of crashes usually orchestrated by the recalcitrant attitude of some road users. 

The road safety agency added that over the years, ‘ember months’ have come to represent the peak of human and vehicular movement, with its corresponding high rates of road crashes due to increased number of road users in the run up to the festive season.

FRSC Akwa Ibom State Sector Commander, Matthew Olonisaye, made this known in an interview with The Guardian, while speaking on the readiness of the Command to ensure accident-free ember months.

Olonisaye, who advised motorists to avoid over-speeding, use of phone while driving, driving against the flow of traffic, among others, revealed that engaging in any of these could cause looming undesirable outcomes, such as tyre burst, brake failure and loss of control, leading to property damage, injuries, and loss of life.

Olonisaye revealed that there are many facets to the problem of road crashes during ember months, including increasing numbers of vehicles on the roads, the rush to meet loved ones and more trips on the part of commercial drivers to make more profit in preparation for Christmas, unsafe driving practices (including the daredevil antics of the motorcyclists/tricyclists), lack of vehicle maintenance culture, as well as drivers who vehemently refuse to obey traffic rules and regulations.

He lamented that some drivers, who, despite knowing the dangerous consequences of their actions, still go ahead to buy tokunbo (used) tires and indulge in drugs/alcohol, while driving, among others. These, according to him, increase crashes during ember months.