2025 ‘Ember Months’ Campaign: FRSC Calls For Responsible Actions Against Distracted Driving

OLORUNDARE ENIMOLA, Lagos

Corps Commander Kehinde Hamzat, the Lagos State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC has said road safety is a shared responsibility that begins with individual attitude and responsible actions behind the wheel.and not just the duty of law enforcement agencies.

The Sector Commander made the assertion on Thursday at the flag off of this year’s ’ember months’ campaign exercise, held at Excellence Hotel, organised to educate, enlighten, and sensitize the motoring public on road safety, especially in the buzzing months leading to Yuletide.

Themed; ‘Take Responsibility for Your Safety – Stop Distracted Driving’, the Sector Commander noted that the reduction of road crashes is possible when motorists take responsibility for actions against distracted driving, emphasising that crashes are not caused by supernatural forces but by increased human activities and declining safety consciousness.

Saying, “the Corps, under the leadership of Shehu Mohammed continues to demystify myths about road crashes through public enlightenment, enforcement, and collaboration with stakeholders.”

He highlighted that over 15% of road traffic crashes in Lagos State in 2024 were linked to distracted driving, with mobile phone use while driving being the most prevalent.

“Distractive driving includes using mobile phones, eating, adjusting gadgets, or engaging in deep conversations while driving, significantly impairs judgment and reaction time.” He said.

The Commander also made calls for personal responsibility from drivers, commuters, pedestrians, fleet operators, passengers and enforcement agencies to avoid distractions, ensuring proper training for drivers, and adhering to traffic rules.

The SC also noted progress made in crash reduction, improved response time to accidents, and better public enlightenment and engagement through collaboration with public agencies and stakeholders.

Earlier, ACM Anthony Dauda, the Zonal Corps Commander who spoke through Oladayo A., Zonal Corps Commander, emphasizes on the importance of celebrating achievements in serious business projects but warns about the complexities and potential accidents that can arise from excessive celebration behind the driving wheel.

Advising motorists to take things easy and be patient, especially when driving, to avoid accidents caused by drunkenness, recklessness and wild jubilations, while sharing a personal story about a friend who ignored advice from a policeman and had an accident shortly after, highlighting the need for responsible driving.

ACM Dauda stresses the importance of controlling one’s speed to a maximum of 80 kilometers which is an act of responsibility in ensuring for the driver and others on the road.

In his remarks, Rotimi Odusola, Corporate Relations Director, Guinness Nigeria PLC, emphasizes the importance of consumer and public responsibility in ensuring safety, particularly in avoiding distracted driving, highlighting the dangers of combining alcohol consumption with driving, categorizing it as a criminal offense.

Odusola added that Guinness Nigeria PLC supports the Road Safety Corps in promoting the message against any form of distraction while driving or operating machinery, saying the company encourages everyone to avoid distractions and take responsibility for their safety with the message of responsible drinking and driving.

Pastor Ayodele Elijah, Deputy Treasurer, National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, reiterated the importance of ensuring vehicles are in order to prevent accidents, adding that drinking and driving is strictly prohibited and emphasised at their parks with penalties meted on those found flaunting the rule and other road safety rules.

While asking traffic regulatory agencies to display professionalism at all times and to handle drivers responsibly highlighting the importance of writing reports instead of chasing drivers who break traffic rules unnecessarily.

The campaign aims to make Lagos roads safer not just during the ’ember months’ but throughout the year and calls made for sustainable collaboration with stakeholders.