BY ABUCHI IFESINACHI, AWKA
As part of the drive towards reduction of carnage as wellas inculcate the culture of safe-driving on the high ways , the Federal Road Safety Commission has taken a step further to introduce road safety tips in hotels in Anambra State .
Sector commander of the commission in the state Mr. Sunday Ajayi disclosed this to Fides at the command headquarters Awka during an exclusive chat .
Mr.Ajayi said that it became necessary to take roadsafety tips to the hospitality industry because holiday seekers and travellers alike find temporary abode in hotels . He further explained that most of the people who patronized hotels were motorists and roadusers and as such it became pertinent that roadsafety messages were pasted in the rooms at vantage point where guests can relax and read them with avid attentiveness.
The sector commander also disclosed that Anambra State is the first state in Nigeria where such innovation was introduced adding that the import of the innovation was as a result of human factor . He said human beings ply the highways and that it was incumbent on the commission to get them acquainted with roadsafety tips using hotel rooms as a means of spreading roadsafety messages to the motoring public .
Mr.Ajayi therefore noted that " partnering with the hoteliers is the easiest way to achieve the goal because if we approach them and they don't agree with us , we won't be able to use that window . That is why we needed to consult with them and let them see the reason why they should show love to their customers because if their customers continue to die , they will run out of business..."
The Anambra FRSC boss equally observed that Anambra has relatively complied with traffic rules and regulations judging from the common front established towards roadsafety efforts in the state stressing that the Anambra State Government Traffic Management Agency and the State Vehicle Inspection Officers were on top of the situation as it relates to traffic management and control in the state .
Although he pointed out that road construction in the state capital Awka has resulted in pockects of crashes due to the fact that most roadusers were ignorant of the fact that they should drive with care and caution in road construction areas , as a result of wreckless driving most vehicles crashed into the gutters especially in Awka town .
He therefore stated that vehicle maintenance was one of the surest ways to reduce road traffic crashes as most accidents involving heavy duty vehicles were as a result of loss of control or break failure adding that the commission will rely heavily on public education , existing policies as well as stakeholders to achieve the commission's overall goal on accident reduction on Nigerian roads .
