L-R: Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Lagos Sector Command, CC Babatunde Farinloye and Managing Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. John Musunga
The Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Lagos Sector Command, CC Babatunde Farinloye yesterday urged Lagos motorists and other road users to exercise caution in the ember months as he revealed that there were 79 deaths and 603 disabilities from 353 road traffic crashes which occurred in Lagos between January and September 2023, National Association of Online Security News Publishers, NAOSNP can report.
He made this known at the FRSC Ember Month Road Safety Campaign which he flagged off yesterday Thursday 19th October at new BRT Terminal, Oshodi, Lagos. The campaign is tagged ‘Speed Thrills but Kills: Drive responsibly and Avoid Overloading’.
Speaking at the rally, CC Babatunde Farinloye stated: ‘The Ember Months – a period spanning September to December- have historically been associated with disproportionate road crash incidents and fatalities, leading to widespread misconceptions and myths with many road users spiritualizing crash causation during this period. Some even claim the crashes are propagated by blood-sucking demonic operations on the road. This erroneous conviction has not only created heightened apprehensions but fostered a sense of inevitability and helplessness in the face of this self-afflicted destruction.’
‘Speed has been identified globally as a causal or aggravating element in almost 96% of road traffic crashes. Its dimensions consist of Excessive Speed and Inappropriate Speed. Both dimensions task our sense of accountability and responsibility. Speeding does not translate to significant travel time gains rather it exacerbates the likelihood of crash and severity of injuries. So, what is the motivation? What is the rationality beyond our misleading emotions? A deception of false enjoyment, superiority and pride. We must kill all these emotions to kill speeding before it kills us all.’
‘The privilege to drive on the highways imposes the responsibility on every driver; the responsibility to share road with consideration for others, the responsibility to drive as prescribed by law and the responsibility to take your safety and others as cardinal at all time. Before you make those dangerous moves on the road, ask yourself the critical question of “What if?”, NAOSNP gathered.
‘Besides speeding, overloading and irresponsibility, statistics have also depicted the potential for high rate of Driving under Influence of Drug and Alcohol, Fatigue Driving, Disregards for Vehicle Maintenance and Distracted Driving during this period of festivities. The surge in vehicle density on the roads, which will result in congestion in some places, will test our driving competencies, it will test our vehicles fitness and also test our patience. So, be prepared.’
On the first 9 months of Year 2023, National Association of Online Security News Publishers, NAOSNP gathered from CC Babatunde Farinloye, ‘From January to September, 2023, the command has recorded a total of 353 road traffic crashes which claimed the lives of 79 citizens while 603 other sustained different degree of injuries, some with permanent disabilities. Just a few days ago, around 0045Hrs in the morning, the crash between a luxury bus and a truck making a U-Turn at Kara end of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway led to the death of four (4) passengers. These incidents constitute huge human capacity loss and high level of trauma, social cost and other consequences that may change the course of several destinies’.
Farinloye called on all motorists, road users, and other stakeholders in Lagos ‘to support the Corps in this arduous task through exemplary conducts on the road and the propagation of the message of safety across our various constituencies. We all have a role to play as captains of industry, heads of institution and family. We particularly charge the road transport service providers to the responsibility of self-regulations to limit incidents of aborted trips due to infractions and arrests. Nigerians deserve road transportation that is efficient, equitable and safe. This we must all strive to deliver to our people and our nation.’