Mr. Alphonsus Godwin, Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Jigawa, has urged stakeholders to join in fighting the menace of Road Traffic Crashes (TRCs) in the state.
Godwin, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Saturday, said stakeholders could contribute by participating in educational and sensitisation programmes.
He said community and religious leaders, passengers and family members, including interest groups were key stakeholders in such lifesaving activities.
The sector commander explained that in order to reduce RTCs , the command had to focus its 2020 Ember Months Campaign on motorcycle and tricycle operators, that had contributed immensely to the increased rate of RTCs in the state.
“With a special focus on motorcycle and tricycle operators in Jigawa, we shall be having lectures targeted at this category of road users who have contributed immensely to increased state of RTCs in the state.
“Community and religious leaders, passengers, family members and interest groups must be seen doing the needful in that regard.
“For instance, as a passenger, you have the right to choose not to travel in an overloaded vehicle or in one that is not road worthy, as you have the right to caution a driver not to over-speed when you are in a vehicle.
“Similarly, parents and family members should caution children on proper and safer road usage before leaving home for schools or when sending them for errands.
“While community and religious leaders are expected to be preaching road safety ideals to their subjects and congregation at any given opportunity,” the sector commander said.
Godwin, told NAN that Ember months are usually characterised by high vehicular traffic that brought about crashes, which usually resulted in death, injury and loss of property due to negligence on the part of drivers.
Godwin, therefore, warned motorcycle and tricycle operators to desist from overloading, route violation and wrongful overtaking to avoid accidents.
He said that it had been observed that some of the accidents involving motorcycle and tricycle operators are mostly as a result of overloading, route violation or reckless overtaking.
“That is why we need to intensify our efforts in enforcing traffic rules and regulations as well as educate people, especially motorcycle and tricycle operators on the importance of safety,” he said.
Godwin further explained that the measure was aimed at saving lives and preventing recurrence of vehicular accidents across the state.
However, he pointed out that this could be achieved only if the operators heeded to the warning.
He also implored the operators to regularise their vehicle documents to avoid friction with FRSC officials.
The Sector Commander stressed that it was part of the corps’ responsibilities to ensure that vehicles have valid documents at all times.
