The sensitisation campaign took the form of a carnival but the stern faces of men of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) conveyed the seriousness of the exercise.
They gathered at the popular Aroma Square in Awka in collaboration with the Anambra State government to tell the people of the state that traffic offenders will no longer go unpunished.
Anambra State Sector Commander, Mr. Sunday Ajayi pledged to eliminate the gridlock at Bridge head in the commercial city of Onitsha every festive period.
But to get it right, Ajayi said that all stakeholders including the drivers, security agencies and the corps members to raise the awareness in road safety.
The theme of the programme was entitled, “road safety is a shared responsibility, it depends on you”.
Speaking with the Nation after the event, the FRSC Commander for Benin zone comprising Anambra, Edo and Delta states, Mr. Charles Akpabio, said there is need for strict adherence to safety regulations by motorists.
He said that more than 50 percent of road crashes in the country were due to violations of speed limit.
Akpabio said that everybody must get involved in the business of road safety as there was nobody who does not use the roads as part of his journey.
“Every motorist like any other human being has some element of insanity in him, a good driver is one who drives with the mindset that other road users are equally mad”.
He warned that the officers of the agency in the zone would be strict with the implementation of all safety rules and regulations, especially as the yuletide draws close.
“Lack of attention to simple regulations and most especially, speed violations alone cause more than 50 percent of crashes on our roads, we are going to deploy radar guns, tranquilizers in our patrol exercises to ensure that we reduce crashes at least 25 percent this period”
For Ajayi, the commendation should go to Anambra state government for its assistance to the FRSC in the provision of logistics for their operations and the training of drivers in its employ.
He said, “Anambra government has always provided the enabling environment for the command, we will continue to make effective use of such opportunities to achieve effective delivery.
Governor Willie Obiano praised the FRSC command in the state for the safety level recorded so far in the state, but pledged continued partnership with the agency.
He was represented by the state Commissioner for Transport, Chuma Mbonu, a lawyer at the event.
He said, the state administration was paying huge attention to road infrastructure in the state as to ease traffic within the state.
“Part of this effort is the construction of three flyovers in the Awka metropolis, this administration is very concerned about ensuring that roads in Anambra state are safe for all users” Obiano said.
Some of the drivers, Okwudili Nwagu, Innocent Okezie, Anthony Okafor who spoke with the Nation said they would adhere to the rules and regulations of the agency, especially during the yuletide period.
And to show the seriousness of the state government, Obiano has already banned the sale of alcoholic drinks in all the motor parks in the state.
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