FIC Report (Abia State) – Federal Road Safety Corps has urged Motorist to drive responsibly and avoid overloading noting that speed kills.
The Abia State FRSC Deputy Corps Commander, Bridget Asekhauno gave this warning at the FRSC Ember Month Campaign Flag off.
She revealed that as a measure to check mate over speeding, the Corps has initiated speed control in collaboration with various stakeholders.
She pointed out that notable among these efforts is the introduction of speed limiting device as approved by the standard organization of Nigeria with effective enforcement going on since 2015 and it’s compulsory usage by commercial drivers.
“It is worthy to note that this 2023 Ember Months campaign with the Theme: Speed thrills but kills:Drive Responsibly and Avoid Overloading”, is targeted at achieving minimal road crashes, zero fatalities and free flow of traffic during the period”, she stated.
Commander Bridget said that Command has come up with a vigorous and intense public enlightenment program in motor parks, churches, schools, market, and Radio stations across the cities and rural areas of the State.
In addition has also deployed personnel,operational vehicles and ambulances to all strategic roads across the State and road traffic mobile court as part of measures to achieve the target.
Deputy Commander Bridget Asekhauno also pointed out that the Command is collaborating with Security Agencies, State Transport Agency and Abia State Integrated Manifest and Safety Scheme(ASPIMSS) to ensure the success of the process.
She implored motorist and road users to avoid over speeding, over loading, night trips that endangers due to due to poor visibility, etc and to cooperate with the personnel of the Corps deployed to ensure absolute safety on the road.
The Governor of Abia State,Dr Alex Oti who was represented by the Commissioner for Transport, Comrade Sunny Onwuma in his address congratulated the entire Management and Staff of Federal Road Safety Corps, Abia State on the commendable roles they are playing in ensuring safety on our roads thereby reducing Road traffic crashes and fatality in the State.
“Abia State Government is committed to collaborating with Federal Road Safety Corps in ensuring the safety of lives and property of the good people of Abia State”.
“My administration is also committed to providing road infrastructure and good road network for all road users which is evident in massive road rehabilitation going on in the state”, he said.
Governor Alex Otti, emphasized that the need to drive safely and save lives by all drivers is a shared responsibility and therefore urged all road users in Abia to obey all traffic rules and regulations these Ember Months.
Earlier, the State Chairman of National Association of Road Transport Owners (NATO),Deacon Amobi Ohaeri, stated that he has a good impression about the work FRSC is doing in Abia State and observed improved service delivery.
He, however, reiterated that these campaign on responsible driving should be taken directly to the stakeholders which are drivers of vehicles especially in parks.
Deacon Amobi Ohaeri advised FRSC to do these campaigns often in the parks where drivers of commercial vehicles known for reckless driving are found.
He also imlpored Federal Road Safety Corps to collaborate more with park drivers and not just only stop at having meetings with their Leaders.
“let their presence be felt more in parks as this could encourage positive driving behavior and also deter negative activities that encourage irresponsibility in driving”.
Ijeoma Amah
FIC Correspondent
