The Lagos State Driver’s Institute (LASDRI) has flagged off the year 2024 Ember Months Safety Advocacy Campaign with the theme: “Road Safety; A Collective Responsibility for Economic Sustainability”.
Speaking at the event held at Ojodu Berger Motor Park, the General Manager of LASDRI, Mrs. Afusat Tiamiyu said the Agency’s annual Ember months safety awareness is designed to raise consciousness about road safety through building a culture of safety and a world where streets and roads are safe, green and liveable.
Tiamiyu added that it also seeks to address the importance of safeguarding vulnerable road users and highlighting the unique challenges urban areas face due to high population densities and complex transportation systems.
The LASDRI boss observed that at this particular period of the year, the risks associated with road travel are significantly heightened by factors such as activities of unlicensed drivers and riders, vehicle defects, poor road conditions and total disregard for traffic and regulations. She explained further that ensuring road safety is a formidable challenge that concerns everyone, regardless of whether one’s a driver, passenger or pedestrian.
In her words “It is my sincere belief that every individual has one role or another to play towards achieving road safety and development goals, and stakeholders are called upon to, at any point in time, ensure that they work towards making our roads not only safe but healthy for the benefit of mankind”.
Also speaking in the same vein, the representative of the Federal Road Safety Commission at the event, Chief Superintendent Route Commander Habeeb Rotimi urged drivers to be safety-conscious during ember months, noting that it is only the living who can celebrate.
He said drivers should be very careful when driving and be sure that all the components of their vehicles are in good shape.
In his presentation, a representative of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) at the event, Quarter Master, Jubree Oshodi said towards the end of every year, the volume of traffic increases, coupled with a high incidence of road traffic infractions such as route violation, excessive speeding, dangerous driving, driver fatigue and making calls while driving.
He explained that these risk factors result in road traffic crashes with fatalities, and the high vehicular volume due to the surge in movement of people results in traffic gridlock, fatigue and sometimes traffic crashes among others.
Responding, the representative of road unions at the occasion, Chairman of Branch “A”, Tokunbo Seriki, appreciated the efforts of the Lagos State Government for the enlightenment and safety advocacy campaign and pledged the union’s continuous support to all the state government policies aimed at improving the lots of Lagosians.
