Ensuring safety on Nigerian roads to reduce crashes took centre stage at the opening of a two-day seminar organised by the Oyo State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC.
The seminar, which was held at the Command Headquarters, Eleyele, attracted executives of the State Park Management System, PMS, Top Unit Management of the FRSC and a non-governmental organisation on road safety.
In his presentation, representative of a non-governmental organisation with a focus on the safety of children on the road, Dr Tunde Aladesanmi said the safety of children counts, hence the need for stakeholders’ partnership and constant training.
Speaking on the causes of road crashes, a Deputy Corps Commander in charge of training, Mrs Rita Omowa said road accidents were caused by three factors, which include the driver, vehicle and the road.
Mrs Omowa explained that drivers often cause crashes on the road when they are stressed due to long journeys, drug use and overloading of vehicles.
Speaking from the legal aspect of road safety, a legal practitioner who is also a lecturer at the faculty of law, University of Ibadan, Dr Oluwakemi Sipe reviewed past laws on road safety, which were at par with international best practices, but lamented poor legal applications of the road safety laws.
She stressed the need for more symposiums, usage of more road signs and ambulances for urgent response during emergencies.
Earlier, in her opening remark, the Oyo Sector Commander, Mrs Rosemary Alo, said FRSC was established through a decree with the mandate of ensuring safety on the road.
The seminar with the theme: creating a safe motoring environment in Nigeria: a collective responsibility of all citizens, ends tomorrow.
Radio Nigeria/Oluwatomiwa Dahunsi
