PATRICK ABANG, Calabar-
Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has flagged off this year’s ember months campaign which is aimed at reducing road accident during festivities.
Ayade who flagged the campaign in Calabar Municipal Council with the theme “Maintain Safe Speed, Avoid Night Travels and Enjoy Quality Road Experience”, charged to drivers in the state not to drive above speed limit.
The governor, who was represented by his Deputy Ivara Isu, promised to continue to partner with relevant agencies in the fight to reduce road accident during the ember months.
In their address, the Zonal Commander South South of the Federal Road Safety Corp’s (FRSC), Benjamin Ngwonta and the State Commander of (FRSC), Ocheja Isaac Ameh, said the end of the year is usually associated with high vehicular and human mobility across the country which leads to avoidable road traffic crashes.
“As the Lead Agency in road safety administration and traffic management in Nigeria, this presents a unique road safety concern to us and to the people whom we are established to protect from the debilitating effects of road traffic consequences in Nigeria,”.
According to the FRSC officials, road mishaps during the ember month’s period may be attributed to a number of reasons which are directly or indirectly linked to individual’s perception.
On a general note, the apprehension that follows one’s account of accomplishments for the year and the need to balance-off the deficit contributes to the impatience and some irrational behaviours that are sometimes exhibited behind the wheels”
“These actions usually leave behind a trail of irreparable damage and loses including human lives “
“This particular concern has been noted by the FRSC overtime and has been approached systematically through the platform of Special Ember Months flag-off operations”
The officials further noted: “That the very essence of this strategy is to compliment other effective mechanisms that have been employed in the year so as to stamp out avoidable Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs) and fatality in the Ember Months period and ultimately achieve the corporate strategic goals of the Corps which aims to achieve 15% and 20% reduction in RTC and fatality respectively”
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