Ember Months: Wike, FRSC Advocate Safety On Roads

Kinika Mpi

The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has urged road users in the state to apply adequate safety measures in this ember months as government has provided the necessary logistics to enhance free flow of traffic in Port Harcourt and its environs.
The Governor gave the charge last Thursday during the flag-off of 2019 ‘Ember’ months Road Safety, Campaign Rally, themed “Road Safety is State of Mind, Road Traffic Crash is an Absence of Mind; Stay Alert, Stay Alive,” organised by State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
The governor who was represented by the Administrator of Greater Port Harcourt Authority, Ambassador Desmond Akawo, cautioned drivers against setting late time to appointments, driving against the lane (one way), drinking while driving and not fastening their seat belts, stressing that obeying the traffic rules and road signs is better than reading the road signs.
He said, in a bid to boost traffic flow in the state and rid the roads of any form of road traffic congestion caused by human activities, government recently inaugurated special taskforce on illegal motor parks, street trading and road side mechanic. He said the state government had also directed the road maintenance agency to fix all the visible potholes on roads as well as awarded contract for the construction of three flyovers with a view to ease movement in the city.
Earlier, in his address, the FRSC Sector Commander, Rivers Sector Command, David Mendie, said that the event was aimed at creating public awareness on issues affecting road safety and need for members of the public to join hands to tackle the menace of road traffic crashes on our roads.
According to him, driving requires 100 percent concentration, urging drivers to desist from all forms of distractions such as use of phone while driving, eating while driving, making-up, engaging in discussion and argument while driving.
While urging stakeholders to put in place road safety measures during the ember months and beyond, the FRSC boss expressed gratitude to Governor Wike for donating five JAC pickup patrol vehicles to the State sector command.
In a goodwill message, the chairman, Taskforce on Illegal Motor Parks, Street Trading and Roadside Mechanics, Hon Bright Amaewhule, suggested that drivers should be made to undergo training to acquaint them with the basic rules and regulations of driving with a view to reducing auto crashes on the road, saying that most of the road crashes were caused by human errors that are avoidable.
He urged FRSC to collaborate with the police, Vehicle Inspection Officer (VIO) and other agencies to ensure that vehicles were up to standard and road worthy.
The Airforce Chieftain, Air Commordore E.O.E Ebiowe, in his goodwill message, reiterated the preparedness of the military to partner with FRSC to ensure that safety of lives was achieved, as he urged drivers not to drink and drive.