FRSC Urges Drivers to Stay Focused to Curb Ember Month Road Crashes

By our Correspondent

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has called on motorists to avoid distractions while driving, as part of its renewed campaign to reduce accidents during the 2025 Ember Months.

Speaking at a town hall meeting in Abuja to launch this year’s safety campaign themed “Take Responsibility for Your Safety: Stop Distracted Driving,” the FCT Sector Commander, Mr. Felix Theman, expressed concern over the increasing rate of avoidable road crashes caused by driver inattention.

According to Theman, more than 27,000 drivers were apprehended in the last quarter for offences such as phone use while driving, speeding, and driving against traffic. He identified Airport Road, Nyanya–Mararaba, and Kubwa Expressway as major high-risk routes within the FCT, often linked to reckless driving, overspeeding, and mechanical failures.

He stressed that most accidents stem from human error rather than poor road conditions or vehicle defects, pledging to intensify public enlightenment through media engagement, transport unions, and community-based groups to promote a culture of safe and responsible driving.

A retired Assistant Corps Marshal, Jonas Agwu, urged the FRSC to step up enforcement against distracted driving, describing it as a silent killer that claims more lives than terrorism.

Agwu decried the absence of reliable national data on distracted driving despite its major contribution to accidents. He cited global statistics showing that road crashes caused 1.19 million deaths in 2021, compared to just over 8,000 deaths from terrorism in 2023. He warned that distractions such as phone use, eating, emotional distress, or personal grooming can increase crash risk by up to 23 times.

Representing the FCT Minister, the Director of the Security Service Department, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Mr. Adamu Gwary, commended the FRSC for sustaining its public enlightenment campaigns but advised the Corps to focus more on youth engagement in future safety drives.

He also appealed to FCT residents to obey traffic rules and safety guidelines, especially during the high-risk Ember Months.

In their goodwill messages, stakeholders in the transport and security sectors lauded the FRSC for its consistent road safety initiatives and pledged continued collaboration to ensure safer highways.

They further stressed the importance of driver discipline, regular vehicle checks, and strict adherence to traffic regulations.