The Edo Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Saturday joined its counterparts in West Africa to commemorate the 2021 West Africa Road Safety Organisation (WARSO) Day.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that as part of activities to commemorate the day, the command took its sensitisation train to fleet operators and motor parks within the state capital.
WARSO day is observed in accordance with the resolution reached at WARSO Executive Committee meeting held in Contonu, Republic of Benin in April 2013 where May 8 was adopted as ‘WARSO Day’.
Mr Henry Benamaisia, Edo Sector Commander of the corps, said that the visitation to the fleet operators and motor parks was in line with FRSC 2021 Strategic goals to reduce Road Transport Crash (RTC) by 15 per cent and fatality by 20 per cent.
Mr. Benamaisia also said that the visit was to sensitize the motoring public on the need to continue to observe the COVID-19 Protocols.
While speaking on the theme for this year: “Road Safety Consciousness in the midst of Global Pandemic” he explained the COVID-19 protocol for the motoring public include stoppage of overloading, overspeeding, wrongful overtaking and avoidance of drunk driving.
Other protocols, he said were the use of face masks, maintenance of physical distancing by commuters which is two meters, sitting arrangement, use of hand sanitizers as well as provision of same by fleet operators/parks operators.
“Provision of soap, water at entrance of motor parks for hand washing, maintaining hygienic environment, and all other safety measures to combat the deadly virus are also part of the protocols,” he said.
The sector commander called on the public to continue to push for better road culture in the face of global pandemic as crashes have not stopped from occurring because of the pandemic.
“We implore all well-meaning Edo people to sensitise those around them on the need to obey traffic regulations, and the COVID-19 protocol,” Benamaisia said.
He also advised motorists against indiscipline, impatient and intolerance on the road and called for defensive driving.
Mr. Benamasia said that road traffic crashes was enormous, and there was the need to do everything necessary to reduce crashes on the road.
Some of the parks visited include the Uselu park, on the Benin- Lagos road, Warri park by Ramat, Ikpoba Hill, the Big Joe Terminal on Akpakpava Road, Faith Motors Benin, and God Is Good motors on the Benin- Lagos road.(NAN)
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