Lagos Kicks Off Ember Months Safety Campaign

By Dipo Olowookere

Lagos State Government has commenced the ember month’s campaign with a charge to drivers, commuters and other stakeholders in the transportation sector to be safety conscious and drive defensively in order to ensure that the State does not record any loss of lives and property this season.

The Chief Executive Officer of Lagos State Drivers’ Institute, Mr Philips Ogunlade, gave the charge on Wednesday at the Multi Park Drivers’ Enlightenment Campaign Programme organised for drivers at Ogolonto, Agric, and Sabo Motor Parks in Ikorodu Local Government Area while the Institute also provided free eye tests for drivers.

Speaking on the theme: “Life is Worth Living – Drive Safely”, Mr Ogunlade stated that ember months are just like other months of the year and the increased road accidents recorded in the previous seasons were largely due to human error from road rage and increased traffic during the period, stating further that the campaign programme is designed to create adequate awareness and re-awaken people’s consciousness, especially drivers and commuters, to safety.

According to him, security and safety of lives and property is one of the cardinal policies of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration and this is demonstrated through massive construction and rehabilitation of roads and installation of streetlights to ensure visibility at night.

He called on all drivers and commuters to check and ensure their vehicles are in good conditions, obey traffic rules and regulations and be disciplined, avoid over-speeding, drive cautiously and safely, not to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol and drive defensively while passengers are enjoined to encourage drivers to drive cautiously as safety on the road is a collective responsibility.

The Chief Executive Officer of LASDRI also reiterated that the Institute was established to address the huge level of indiscipline on the road by breeding a new generation of drivers whose driving would be cultured, instinctive and who are expected to respect the right of other road users.

“This is why the Institute operates structured and mandatory professional driving training courses for all drivers and conductors, including non-professional drivers interested in improving their driving skills”, he noted.

While emphasizing that it is mandatory for all professional drivers to attend the Institute for training, retraining and recertification once a year, he solicited for the support of all transport unions, especially the union leaders, to encourage their members to visit any of the Institute’s five centres behind LASTMA headquarters’ in Ikeja, Oko Afo in Badagry, Odongunyan in Ikorodu, Oja-Oba in Lagos Island and Itoikin road in Epe for retraining and recertification in order to enhance their driving skills and make them better drivers.

Dignitaries present at the event include, the Deputy Director, Training at LASDRI, Alhaja Afusat Tiamiyu; Area Controller, Lagos East of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, Latifat Giwa; Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Unit Commander, Ikorodu, Taiwo Eko; the Secretary, Ogolonto Tipper’s Association, Mr Saliu Abiodun and the Chairman, Branch B of National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Otunba Waliu among others.