FRSC:"Ember Months Road Crashes Not Ordained"

The Federal Road Safety Corps, Akwa Ibom State Command, has said over 90 per cent of road crashes in the country are caused by human errors. The Zonal Head of Operations, Mr. Shehu Umar, said if risky behaviours like overloading, speeding, drink driving and use of cell phones while driving were avoided, road crashes would be greatly reduced.

Umar, who represented the Zonal Commanding Officer, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Mrs. Comfort Nwadoka, said this during the commencement of the 2013 ‘Ember’ months’ road safety awareness campaign in Uyo on Monday.
She stated that this year’s campaign was all-inclusive, as the carnival floats and motorcade commenced at the same time at the organisation’s Unit Commands in Eket, Ikot Ekpene, Abak and Mbak with the grand finale in Uyo.
She said, “The myth of ‘Ember Months’  has dwelt with us over the years with many erroneously believing that road crashes are ordained during this season.
“It is important to note that there is nothing mysterious about this period, except that the festive season and the end of year activities are associated with increased vehicular movements.
“There is also attendant increase in risky habits on our roads such as overloading, speeding, drink driving, use of cell phones while driving, dangerous driving and so on. These have naturally resulted in crashes.
“The rate of killings on our roads in recent times is unacceptable. Research has also shown that about 90 per cent of the causes of road traffic crashes are human-related.”
Nwadoka added that 82 road traffic offenders were booked for seat belt violation in September, 2012 in Akwa Ibom State. She added that in September 2013, only four offenders had been booked for the same offence in the same state.
She stated that the 90.6 per cent reduction was as a result of aggressive public enlightenment and the recent resolve of the corps to prosecute errant motorists.


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