By Kayode Afolabi, Ore

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has called on commuters and road users to speak up and report reckless drivers on the highways in a bid to reduce road crashes across Nigeria.

Corps Marshal, Mr Shehu Muhammed, made the call during the “2024 Ember Month Sensitisation Flag-Off and Town Hall Meeting” held at the Government Field in Ore, Ondo State. Muhammed, represented by Dr Samuel Ibitoye, FRSC Sector Commander in Ondo, addressed the gathering on the topic “Speak Up Against Dangerous Driving: Crashes Kill More Passengers Than Drivers.”

He emphasised that the campaign aims to inform commuters of their rights and encourage them to take action against dangerous driving. “This stakeholders’ meeting, which aligns with the ongoing ‘Ember Months’ campaign, was focused on helping commuters to know their rights,” Muhammed stated.

He also highlighted the Corps’ ongoing efforts to digitise operations as part of President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ for economic growth, urging road users to utilise the newly launched FRSC Mobile Application to report reckless driving.

In his remarks, Muhammed acknowledged the contributions of stakeholders in promoting road safety but stressed that despite FRSC’s efforts, road crashes and fatalities persist due to reckless driving and traffic violations. He appealed to the public to support the FRSC by reporting any dangerous driving incidents to their toll-free lines, 112 and 122.

“Many lives are lost due to mistakes made by a single driver, which is why it is crucial for commuters to speak out and report reckless driving,” Dr Ibitoye added.

The Special Assistant to the Governor of Ondo State on Transportation, Akogun Omole, condemned the issue of indiscriminate parking on highways, particularly along the Ore-Benin, Ore-Ondo, and Ore-Okitipupa routes. Represented by Mr Taiwo Adegoroye, Chairman of Odigbo Local Government Area, Omole called on the FRSC to enforce stricter measures to curb parking violations, which often contribute to accidents.

Omole also reminded attendees that the “Ember Months” are not inherently dangerous; rather, carelessness by drivers and road users leads to crashes. “We will continue to support the FRSC and collaborate with other agencies to ensure safer highways and minimise the loss of lives and property,” he stated.

Mr Murufu Alale, Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Ore, speaking on behalf of motorists, pledged to engage more members in road safety programmes. He further urged the state government to build a standard motor park to prevent indiscriminate parking and repair bad road sections that contribute to accidents.

The event was attended by various stakeholders, including members of the NURTW, the Road Employers Association of Nigeria (RETAN), FRSC Marshals, Special Marshals, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Security (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and secondary school students.