By Etop Ekanem

CONTRARY to superstitious belief by many that road traffic accidents during the ember months are caused by spirits, the Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, has dismissed the claim, saying that increase in human and vehicular movement and the struggle on the part of most people to travel to meet their loved ones, are rather responsible for this.

Oyeyemi stated this during the flag off of FRSC/Nigerian Breweries Plc 2017 ‘Don’t Drink and Drive’ mega rally and road safety awareness campaign at New Garage, Ojota, Lagos.

Boboye Oyeyemi, FRSC boss

Vehicular movement

Oyeyemi, who was represented by Mr. Bisi Kazeem, Corps Public Education Officer of the commission, said: “Nigerians must be aware that frequent cases of road crashes during  yuletide are not linked to any spirit killing people but due to increase in human and vehicular movement and the struggle on the part of most people to travel to meet their loved ones, characterised by bad road usage and more trips on the part of commercial drivers to make more profit in preparation for the yuletide.

“The campaign, therefore, is a timely reminder that drinking and driving does not only pose a threat to the life of the drunk driver, but also to the lives and property of all road users. This year’s collaboration with Nigerian Breweries Plc is coming at a time when the corps is embarking on pre-patrol activities, with the theme, Right to life on the highway not negotiable, for the 2017 Operation Zero, which is the code name for the ember months special patrol.”

Opeyemi said that the sustenance of this FRSC/NBL campaign in Nigeria, which marks its 10th edition shows NBL was not only concerned with the chain of production, distribution, promotion of products, sales and then profit from its business, but that it showed an expression of care for the lives of their customers. “The FRSC is working assiduously to ensure that there will be a significant shift in the attitude of motorists this year, especially during the yuletide where people have come to believe that drinking on daily basis in the name of celebration is permissible. It is a period that irresponsible drinking and misuse of alcohol beverages become a part of merriment and some of those culpable still go ahead to use their vehicles on roads and pose a threat to other road users,” he added.