South East breaking News
By Steve Unegbu
The Federal Road Safety Corps RS9.3 Abia State Sector Command has lined up activities to celebrate the World Road Traffic Crashes Rememberance Day,urging vehicles Drivers to ensure that their vehicles are in order before embarking on any journey, especially these Ember months period.
Addressing Newsmen in Umuahia ,the Sector Commander RS9.3 Abia State Sector Command,Corps Commander Paul Ugwu said the essence of the celebration is to create awareness and arouse the consciousness of people on the need to be careful while using the roads to avoid road traffic crashes .
According to him,”On the 20th of November every year,we celebrate what we call World Road Traffic Crashes Rememberance Day when we tend to have a critical look about crashes and effects of crashes by remembering people that have either died or sustained permanent injuries as a result of road traffic crashes.
” It is just to raise the consciousness of people concerning it and it is being celebrated across Nigeria and here in Abia State,we kick started yesterday .
” We have visited radio stations,we have met with critical stakeholders by visiting some parks sensitizing them and telling them the need to be careful while using the roads .
Speaking further,he pointed out that the rememberance Day celebration is a clarion call for people to know that there is need not only for people to care for people that are involved in crashes but to be careful while using the roads so as to reduce crashes on the roads.
He said the celebration is also known as African Road Safety Day to raise the consciousness of Africa continent and to create awareness on the part of the motoring public for them to know that crashes take away a lot of lives .
“We have a lot of activities lined up,we will go to churches,parks ,visit our stakeholders,go to mosque on Friday,we will do candle procession to remember those that lost their lives,visit hospital on Saturday to commensurate with victims who are still in hospitals to offer them gifts and encourage them and the climax of it will be on Sunday when we will have a celebration in the church”he said.
Commander Ugwu encouraged victims of road traffic crashes to stand in as Ambassadors and speak out as well as talk to their family members, friends,relatives among others on the need for them to be careful while using the roads.
He advised motorists to avoid what he called suicide mission by avoiding speeding, overloading,use of unsafe tyres,avoid dangerous overtaking,exercise patience and caution to arrive to their destinations safely.