The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has called on motorists to be conscious and shuned reckless driving to avoid crashes on highway.

Assistant Corps Marshal Uakhemen Ojeamiren, Zonal Commanding Officer of FRSC Osogbo in charge of Oyo, Osun and Ondo State made the calls during the flag-off of 2022 ember Months campaign held at Ilesha Garage,Akure.

The theme of the 2022 Ember Months campaign is ” Avoid Speeding, Avoid Overloading And Unsafe Tyres to Arrive Alive”.

Ojeamiren, who explained that Christmas and New year period attracting more vehicular movement said that it had became imperatives to the motorists in the spirit of safety to avoid speeding, overloading, Intake of alcohol and use of expired tyres especially during the yuletide period.

The Zonal Commanding Officer said that road safety had been working assiduously on enlightenment programmes via different media channels such as “Kasolayo” a Yoruba programme on safe driving anchored by RC EO JAYEOLA.

He says, the corps would continue to sensitising road users in Motor parks, Schools Churches, Mosques, Offices.

“I am appealing to every motorists to desist and have attitudinal change while driving to arrive safety even beyond the yuletide.

“Drivers must be conscious enough to avoid speeding, unsafe tyres and ensure that at all time they have their driving licence with them,” he said.

In his welcome address, Ezekiel SonAllah, State Sector Commander called on sister agencies, business owners stakeholders and other to join hand with the command in ensuring a safer motoring environment.

SonAllah, who explained that the last quarter of the every year had been associated with high vehicular movement said 2022 Ember Months pose greater concern as it coincides with the commencement of election campaigns.

According to him, command in 2021 ember Months recorded 126 road traffic crashes with 879 persons involved while 148 injured and 96 dead, at the moment command has barely recorded 20 per cent of what they had in the previous year.

“I want to seize this opportunity to appeal to political parties to respect and obey traffic rules and avoid reckless driving during campaigns as only the living votes and are voted into power.

“And command is out to remind that you celebrate only when you arrive alive, hence the need for our united efforts against wrong use of the road,” he said.

The sector commander, therefore, implored motorists to drive with extreme caution during the festival period and beyond as any erring driver would be dealt with decisively.

He said that FRSC would not rest on its oars but continue to pursue its purpose saving lives and properties in order to earn for the nation the deserved dignity in the community of safe nations in the world.

Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu represented by his Senior Adviser on Transport, Tobi Ogunleye, who commended the road safety said the state government would continue to support FRSC for the safety of the people in Ondo State.

Akeredolu explained that the state government had established Ondo State Riders and Drivers Institute saying the initiative was to enhance and improved the driver’s orientation on the roads.

“We have relaunched the state Passenger Transit Safety Insurance Scheme where every passengers covered in case of an accident for free medical treatment.

“Also, we will continue to construct and rehabilitate more roads because lives of our people is more matter to us and is part of our administration quest to safe live on the road.

“So, we therefore call on other major stakeholders to join hand with the FRSC to safe lives especially on highway,” he said.