Ember months road crashes not ordained– FRSC

The Federal Road Safety Corps, Akwa
Ibom State Command, has said over 90
per cent of road crashes in the country
are attributable to 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.