…says unsafe, dangerous
By Okosun Dennis
The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi has advised fleet operators, other commercial drivers and patronisers of night trips, including private vehicle owners to desist from night trips.
He noted that arising from the dangers, the risks and the rising cases of fatalities occasioned by road traffic crashes recorded at night, such trip which is often characterised by poor visibility, fatigue, sleeping on wheels, excessive speed among others is not only unsafe, but utterly dangerous.
According to Bisi Kazeem, the Corps Public Education Officer, Oyeyemi gave the warning while reacting to some reports of fatal crashes recorded at night at the beginning of the year, which led to the death of several road users and left others with different degrees of injuries.
The Corps Marshal while speaking extensively on why night trips should be avoided, lamented that on January 5, 2021, alone, an avoidable fatal crash occurred in Kabba, Kogi State where two vehicles were caught up in a head-on collision as a result of a combination of some factors revealed to be fatigue and sleeping on the steering.
It was learnt that the crash involved the driver of a white Toyota Hiace bus (MSA 942 XA) that contravened COVID-19 protocols on physical distancing by overloading the bus with 18 passengers instead of the prescribed 8 passengers and a green Iveco trailer (AKA 788 XC) carrying seven passengers.
Out of the 25 passengers on board the two vehicles, it was revealed that eight persons died, while 17 sustained various injuries.
Oyeyemi also lamented that crashes that occur at night are more fatal than the ones that happen in the day time, added that on January 9, 2021, two vehicles; a white Sienna (KUG 538 BJ) and a Sharon bus without a number plate were involved in a fatal crash on Akwanga-Keffi road leaving the entire 17 passengers on board burnt beyond recognition.
The Corps Marshal further disclosed that intelligence report revealed that most fleet operators and other vehicle owners, including private vehicle owners who are addicted to night journeys, do so for selfish economic gains by unnecessarily overloading the vehicles with both passengers and goods to avoid arrest and enforcement on physical distancing by FRSC patrol teams.
He warned that in as much as the Corps does not have the statutory powers to ban night trips, it has become very critical and urgent for patronisers of night trips to retrace their steps and plan their journeys in the day time because often times, when crash occurs away from FRSC rescue points, it’s difficult to access help from motorists at night.
In the same vein, while listing out the dangers associated with night travels, like poor visibility, fatigue, sleeping on wheels, dangerous driving, overloading, speeding among others, Oyeyemi also warned passengers whose journeys could wait for the next day to resist any temptation that could lead them into patronising fleet operators at night.
The Corps Marshal warned that these deaths are not only avoidable and preventable but totally unacceptable hence the need for all to take caution.
“On our part, the Corps would continue to double its efforts by constantly engaging the motoring public nationwide, through aggressive awareness and sensitisation campaign, until the desired result is achieved” Oyeyemi added.
https://any.peopleandpowermag.com/corp-marshall-cautions-motorists-to-avoid-night-journey/
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