The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) on Thursday, said that road traffic crashes in Nigeria are not caused by witches but rather by the recklessness of road users.
This statement was made by SC Istifanus Ibrahim, the Sector Commander of the Cross River Sector Command of the FRSC, during the launch of the 2023 Ember Month Safety Campaign.
The campaign’s theme for 2023 is “speed thrills but it kills, drive responsibly and avoid overloading.”
Ibrahim explained that the last four months of the year witness increased vehicular and socioeconomic activities. During this period, commercial drivers often try to maximize their earnings.
He further emphasized that the Ember months are like any other months, but road traffic accidents tend to rise during this period due to motorists driving at excessive speeds and disregarding regulations.
He also debunked the belief that supernatural forces, such as evil spirits, are responsible for the increased crashes during this time, emphasizing that road accidents result from human, mechanical, and environmental factors.
“Therefore, the essence of the Ember months campaign is to compliment other mechanisms that have been deployed to stamp-out overloading, speed and other attitudes that can hinder our goal of five per cent reduction of road traffic deaths and injuries,” he said.
Governor Bassey Otu, who launched the campaign, and was represented by Mr Elvert Ayambem, Speaker of Cross River House of Assembly, noted that while speed can be thrilling, it carries significant risks when not managed responsibly.
He stressed that when people get behind the wheel, they hold the safety of themselves, their passengers, and others on the road in their hands.
Otu emphasized the importance of driving responsibly, adhering to speed limits, and avoiding vehicle overloading, as our actions on the road impact everyone’s safety and urged everyone to balance the excitement of speed with the responsibility of ensuring road safety.