ANAMBRA FRSC URGES MOTORISTS FOR REGULAR VEHICLE INSPECTIONS

By Chizoba Njaka :

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Anambra State Command has issued a directive emphasizing the importance of regular vehicle maintenance.

Deputy Corp Commander Caroline Adaora Oliseh, Sector Training Officer, stressed the importance of regular vehicle maintenance during a training session organized for members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Anambra State Council at Godwin Ezeemo International Press Centre, Awka. She emphasized that motorists must ensure their vehicles are in good working condition before embarking on any journey, highlighting the crucial role this plays in preventing road crashes.

In her presentation, titled “Causes of Road Traffic Crashes, Oliseh underlined the significance of conducting daily vehicle inspections, which she referred to as a “pre-journey routine underscoring that adhering to the practice would substantially contribute to mitigating the incidence of road traffic crashes.

She observed that one of the Corps’ primary objectives is to achieve a 10% reduction in road crashes, explaining that this goal underpins their decision to collaborate with the media. Through this partnership, the Corps aims to disseminate critical information and educate drivers on road safety best practices, thereby facilitating a safer and more efficient operating environment for the FRSC.

Oliseh delineated the primary causes of road traffic crashes, categorizing them into three key factors: human, mechanical, and environmental elaborating that human and mechanical factors are attributable to human agency, whereas environmental factors are driven by natural circumstances.

She enumerated the human factors contributing to road traffic crashes as; overconfidence behind the wheel, excessive speeding, lack of concentration, driver fatigue, driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless overtaking maneuvers, and distractions while driving.

She also highlighted examples of mechanical factors as: engine malfunction, tyre blowouts, brake system failure, inoperative windshield wipers during inclement weather, defective or inaudible horn, electrical system faults, absence or malfunction of rearview mirrors, lack of reflective warning triangles among others.

Oliseh additionally identified environmental factors that contribute to road traffic crashes as heavy rainfall, infrastructure failures, including collapsed bridges, severe weather events, including storms, natural disasters, such as river overflow, potholes and other hazards, obstructions on the roadway, including fallen trees.

In his appreciation, the State Chairman NUJ, Comrade Emeka Odogwu, expressed his gratitude to the FRSC Command for organizing the training session, emphasizing its significance for media practitioners in the state.

Comrade Odogwu noted that the exercise is crucial due to the profound impact journalists have on society, assuring that the knowledge gained from the training would have a far-reaching impact, benefiting not only the journalists themselves, but also the general public, as it would inform and enhance their reporting, ultimately leading to more accurate and comprehensive coverage.