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The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Bayelsa sector command, Thursday kick-started its annual Ember Month campaigns against road traffic accidents in Yenagoa, the state capital. This was as the state government reiterated its plan to implement policies that would enhance the transportation sector of the economy.
The Bayelsa State commissioner for Transport, Grace Ekiotene, who was represented by Engr Ramon Awanah, applauded the FRSC for Ember Month road safety flag-off, as well as other stakeholders in the transport sector for their collaboration.
The 2020 Ember Month road safety campaign flag-off has as its theme: ‘Drive Safely, Stay Safe.’
Our correspondent reports that the event, which had in attendance men and officers of the corps and sister paramilitary agencies, as well as military personnel, afforded the participants opportunity to brain storm on the causes and the need to curb road accidents before, during and after the Yuletide season.
Speaking to our correspondents, the Bayelsa sector commander of the corps, Robert Ogom, restated the rationale behind the campaigns, cautioning drivers against disobedience to road traffic rules and regulations.
He noted that over the years, the major causes of road crashes have been the flagrant disobedience to driving instructions and protocols by both private and commercial road users, owing to their indulgence in certain illicit activities.
Ogom identified some of the illicit activities of drivers which lead to high road traffic crashes as overloading, excessive speeding, use of hands sets while driving, noting that expired and worn out tyres, drunk driving, mechanical deficient vehicles as well as fatigue all contribute to the rise in the number of road traffic crashes during the Ember months.
While promising to checkmate the menace, the Bayelsa FRSC helmsman said already men and officers of the command were on the lookout for road traffic offenders in the state.
“We are going to deploy our officers and men to be on the lookout for these critical offences while others will be on rescue mission, standby teams and enforcement will be at alert,” he said.
Chairman, Bayelsa State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Comrade Eminah Dinyoerinyu, reiterated their resolve to partner with the FRSC in ensuring safety of drivers and passengers on the roads during the Ember months and beyond.
He said it was necessary to prevent roads accidents within the extant traffic rules and regulations, describing the victims of accidents as relations, loved ones and friends of people.
In the same vein, the member representing Nembe constituency 3, who is also minority leader of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, doubling as the coordinator, Special Marshalls of the state’s FRSC, Hon. Douglas Awudulu, hinted that the state House of Assembly may soon outlaw the use of tricycles popular called ‘Keke’ on Bayelsa roads and restrict them to streets.
“States like Delta, Imo and Rivers have outlawed tricycle plying on major roads and express ways, Bayelsa may soon follow,” he said.
He said though there has been Executive order towards that, once the House makes it a law, it will be enforced.
Keke, the lawmaker noted, contributes not only in small measure to road crashes within Yenagoa metropolis and other parts of the state, adding that this is because most of them lack requisite driving professional trainings.
Douglas maintained that reports made to the Special Marshalls from investigations has it that most of the tricycle operatives do not have the requisite driving skills and road worthiness before plying the roads, alleging that some of them connive with armed robbers and persons with questionable characters to rob innocent and law abiding citizens.
He called on all stakeholders in the transport sector to work towards ensuring compliance by all road users to set out traffic standards and rules to ensure the safety of citizens before, during and after the yuletide season.
