The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), on Sunday urged road users to maintain reasonable speed limit and imbibe safety precautions to see 2017 and beyond.
The Sector Commander of FRSC, in Lagos state, Mr Hyginus Omeje, gave the advice at a road safety awareness talk organised by Later Rain Assembly, a church, in conjunction with the commission.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme was also held in conjunction with Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) and the Nigeria Police.
Omeje, who was represented by Mrs Bisi Sanusi, Deputy Route Commander in the sector also called on motorists to observe all safety regulations and be in right frame of mind before putting their vehicles on road.
“FRSC first message to road users is for them to go and process their genuine driver’s license; this is the document that authorises anyone to drive on the road in the first place.
“Drivers should ensure that their vehicles are in good working condition, especially at this festive season when our roads will be busier.
“Road users should be in the right frame of mind to avert accidents during the yuletide, drivers should do away with speed because it thrills but kills fast.
“We need to kill speed for road users to see 2017 and beyond,’’ Omeje said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the theme for the 2016 Ember Months campaigns is “Crash the crash, speed kills’’.
The FRSC boss warned drivers against overloading and taking alcohol stressing that, “If you must drink don’t drive, if you drive, don’t drink’’.
Omeje also urged parents to enure that their children use seat belt properly but reminded them that children under 12 years were not allowed to stay in front of vehicle.
He also urged drivers to do medical checks such as vision to determine their suitability to drive vehicle as well as ‘’to stay alive and also enable others to stay alive.’’
Mr Austin Nwosu, a Security Expert, Later Rain Assembly, emphasised the need for people, particulary road users to imbibe safety attitudes.
“Our actual purpose is to tell the road users the need to imbibe safety precautions on the road as we approach Christmas and New Year celebrations.
“This safety awareness talk is to tell the road users, especially the commercial drivers, requirements that can make our road safe and prevent loss of lives.
“Compliance to safety regulations is the most important thing; we pray this audience and other drivers comply with the rules.
“If they comply, loss of lives on the highways will be stemmed and our environment secured,’’ Nwosu said.
Nwosu, who called on the Federal Government to increase effort in rehabilitating roads to reduce carnage, also urged agencies charged with responsibility of maintaining roads live up to their mandates.
Mr Blessing Adesanya, an official of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Ogba said that the union had been sensitising its members on the need to limit speed while driving.
He urged FRSC and other traffic agencies to sensitise drivers on the need to limit their speed while on wheel at all times. (NAN)