The Federal Road Safety Corps has inaugurated its 2024 nationwide ember months sensitisation campaign to reduce Road Traffic Crashes during the end-of-year travels.
The Corps Marshal, FRSC, Shehu Mohammed, said this in a statement by the Corps Public Education Officer, Olusegun Ogungbemide, on Thursday in Abuja.
Mr Mohammed emphasised on aggressive sensitisation of commuters to speak up against reckless driving and report any noticeable case through the FRSC Mobile Application, 122 or the National Traffic Radio 107.1 FM for prompt intervention.
He, however, said that new dynamic strategic approaches to public sensitisation had been introduced adding that the commanding officers had been directed to implement them with immediate effect.
He said, “The new approaches include; massive press conferences, mega town hall meetings, motorcades, transit rest areas, and loading bays advocacy. This strategy arose from the need to engage passengers and encourage them to assert their rights, thereby curbing drivers’ excesses, because it is on record that more passengers are killed in road traffic crashes than drivers. To implement this approach, the corps will broaden its advocacy by focusing on re-educating passengers and helping them understand their rights. This will also be in line with the theme for this year’s campaign which is: ‘Speak up against dangerous driving: Crashes kill more passengers than drivers.’’
The corps marshal, however, directed commanding officers to ensure the immediate commencement of mega public enlightenment and sensitisation campaigns to commuters in all states, including the Federal Capital Territory.
Mr Mohammed said that the directive also included ensuring smooth traffic flow, reducing road crashes through aggressive sensitisation of passengers, enforcing traffic laws more rigorously, and improving public awareness on road safety ideals.
This, he said, would be in line with the corporate strategic goal of the corps for the year, which was to reduce road fatalities by five per cent.
The FRSC boss called on the motoring public, especially passengers to always know their rights and speak up against drivers who contravene traffic regulations.
He said, “Report any of such drivers to FRSC patrol operatives and other security agencies along their routes. We also enjoin you to call FRSC 122 toll free emergency numbers or leverage on the FRSC Mobile Application to report accordingly.’’
(NAN)