By Henry Uche
As part of its efforts to reduce road crash incidences during the yuletide season, the Federal Road Safety Corps, Celebrity Special Marshals, Unit 2, Lagos, has flagged off its end-of-year campaign across Lagos, tagged ‘Zero Tolerance’.
A statement signed by the Unit Public Relations Officer and made available to Daily Sun, Mr. Segun Bankole, who is the Deputy General Manager, Corporate Communications & Investor Relations at Sovereign Trust Insurance, confirmed that the Unit has activated the A-Boards on some of the major roads in both Lagos and the Federal Capital City, Abuja.
“As CSMs, our responsibility is to help use our social net worth to assist the Federal Road Safety Corps in educating motorists and commuters on keeping our roads free from road crashes,” he said.
From the statement, the Coordinator, Dr. Gbenga Ajibua, affirmed that the idea was to bring road safety to the awareness of road users during this yuletide season, as the season is characterised by an increase in vehicular movement, with its attendant effects.
“The creatively crafted public enlightenment series, which will be deployed via outdoor and social media, is expected to counter the anticipated increase in the rate of road traffic crashes, usually experienced during this period, which is occasioned by the high increase in economic activities, with its corresponding high volume of traffic.”
Ajibua added that this year’s campaign would focus on addressing crash-causing offences/violations such as speed limit violations, use of phones while driving, dangerous driving, driving under the influence of alcohol, overloading, and the use of seatbelts, among others. He therefore charged the motoring public to maintain zero tolerance for acts that could cause road crashes during this yuletide season.
He noted that the Celebrity Special Marshal Unit 2 has enjoyed the support of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), the Lagos State Advertisement and Signage Agency (LASAA), Flour Mills of Nigeria, Silvercorp Media Ltd, Winstarbel Communications Ltd, and Karae Homes, among others, in birthing the campaign and nurturing it to fruition.
Similarly, the Secretary, Mr. Kayode Yeku, said the aim of the campaign is to educate the motoring public (drivers and passengers alike) on the hidden dangers on Nigerian roads during this period and how to avert them. According to him, the target is to reduce the rate of crashes on our roads to the barest minimum.