YOUTHS AS A VANGUARD OF ROAD SAFETY (2)

It is however sad to note that in spite of the valiant efforts of the Federal Road Safety Corps in combating traffic offences and irregularities, the average Nigerian is mentally conditioned to ignore all codes of road safety and traffic regulations.
From statistics gathered from a publication of Vitus N. Ukoji, published in the year 2014 on www.ifra-nigeria.org in the IFRA-Nigeria e-paper series No 35, between 2006 and 2013, the FRSC recorded 41,118 deaths from road accidents meaning that 74% of reported accidents resulted in fatalities.

Most of the road traffic accidents on Nigerian roads today are motorcycle (popularly known as Okada) collisions or collisions involving Heavy duty vehicles and Articulated lorries with smaller vehicles; what the average Nigerian calls Trailers. Typically, the drivers behind the handlebars and wheels of these vehicles are youths intoxicated with a sense of immortality induced by quantities of alcohol consumed prior to undertaking such journeys. They then develop a disregard for other road users and constitute a veritable road nuisance with their reckless displays of speed. From all indications, the average Nigerian’s road code is, “bigger vehicles have the right of way over smaller vehicles” and “the test of a true driver or motorcyclist is his/her ability to squeeze into remarkably small spaces, especially in heavy traffic”. Coupled with the fact that most of the motorists on our roads today are not truly tested before being issued licences, the consequence is the road traffic accidents we see on the news and read in the papers.

Revolutions start with the youths. Change starts with the youths. So many young lives are lost when the basic rules of Road Safety are flouted; so many injured when the circumstances could be otherwise avoided. It starts with proper testing and licensing of applicants and regularising the procedure across all the states of the Federation. Beyond the Road Safety Awareness clubs in some secondary schools and those championed by serving National Youth Service Corp members, punitive measures must be taken against rule flouters and consistent traffic offenders which would be followed to the letter, irrespective of the social standing of the individual in question or the social status of whoever he or she knows. Such punishments should be the same in all the states so that if Mr A. were to have his driving license seized in one state in the south of the country, he won’t have the luxury of getting behind the wheels in northern state. The Nigerian Youth must understand that reckless speed and/or driving while intoxicated often hastens a premature exit from the world of the living. Patience must be inculcated, in all things, till it becomes part of the fabric of our existence. We should stop complaining about ‘bloodthirsty roads’ and start behaving as model road users. In closing with this famous quote, “be the Change you want to see”.

YOUTHS AS A VANGUARD OF ROAD SAFETY (1)

@NiranNoni

Advert