Sir: The noticeable recklessness on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway needs to be checked by relevant authorities in order to prevent undue loss of lives.

Why is it that in Nigeria, it’s always after a terrible incident has occurred that relevant authorities wake up to prevent a recurrence? Why is it that after the Lagos-Ibadan expressway was opened following its completion, caution has been allowed to be thrown into the wind by both commercial vehicle operators and private drivers when those in charge of regulating speed by drivers seem to have gone to sleep?

This has led to a situation where motorists have now turned the expressway into speed competition ground with all the danger it poses. This should not be allowed to continue and whatever needs to be done, there should be speed limits on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. There is no need to wait until lives are lost before the needful is done. Indeed, there is an urgent need to save us from ourselves.

Besides, it ought to be among the regular schedule of members of the Federal Road Safety Corps to organise Talk Shows from time to time with commercial vehicle drivers and even place jingles on the radio and television about the sanctity of lives and the need for decorum on the roads.

So many lives have been and are still being lost due to extreme carelessness by illiterate drivers who do not seem to place any premium on human lives.

Ironically, most times fatal accidents occur, erring commercial vehicle operators are neither affected nor remorseful, and even go scot-free after wasting so many innocent lives.

Relevant authorities must be alive to their responsibilities in order to save Nigerians from recurring untimely deaths caused through fatal accidents.

• Jide Oyewusi is the coordinator of Ethics Watch International, Nigeria