Focusing on the three E’s would help to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured: These are:
• Engineering of vehicles and roads. (Minister Raji Fashola and Rotimi Amaechi should look into this. Federal Ministry of Transport must put systems in place to enforce that cars that are ultimately sold on our roads are those that are proven to be effective for our roads, our climate and people; Federal Ministry of Works must ensure that high standards are set and enforced for road constructions; car companies must carry a special licence for the approved safe engineering standards; Road construction engineers must be vetted to ensure they follow the approved standards for Safe road construction)
• Enforcing laws which encourage safer driving. (The Federal Safety Corps /FRSC in Nigeria are at the forefront of the campaign and enforcements of road safety, they should do more to encourage safer road usage; initiate appropriate campaigns and advocacy in schools; market places, motor parks; they should be visible in motor parks to curb the habits of drink driving, drugs and related unsafe practices , run seminars regularly and hold awareness campaigns in motor parks; sponsor appropriate advocacy on billboards, run seminars on the use of ring roads or roundabouts for example, most Nigerian motorists are illiterate, hence tend not to understand what to do when approaching a roundabout. Motorists guilty of any Driving offence should be mandated to attend a paid course on road safety and procure road safety advocacy materials instead of imposing fines; as most states are challenging the enforcement of the various road safety fines in courts of law.
• Educating adults and children about staying safer on the roads. This is essential and seasoned education consultants should be engaged to develop relevant advocacy materials for pupils, parents and teachers; motorists on the safer use of roads, driving, and maintenance of their vehicles to ensure safety of lives and reduce accidents on our roads.
These materials can be made available to new individuals at the time of registering a vehicle, applying for a driving licence or to sixteen year olds at the time of starting their driving lessons, to road safety offenders.
Children Safety
Helping children and young people to stay safer should be a high priority for the Nigerian Government, and preventing death and serious injury on the roads is an important part of that. Road safety and road safety education should be high priorities for families and communities. Follow Bcbeewoman on twitter @bcbee1 for Road Safety Education campaigns. You mc also send an email to bcbeenot@gmail.com if you would like to get involved in supporting Road safety Advocacy and reduce serious injuries and deaths on our roads!
The official portal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) publishes daily statistics which show just how many people are injured, and how many die, on our roads every year. You can access the up-to-date local and national data on the statistics section
Seat belts and car seats: the legal requirements
• By law, adults must wear a seat belt in cars, vans and goods vehicles where one is fitted.
• It is an offence to drive with a passenger under 12 years of age who does not wear a seat belt or
child restraint (as appropriate) in the front or back seat.
• Children can use a seat belt when travelling in the front or back seat of any car, van or goods vehicle once they reach their 12th birthday.
• Younger children can also use a seat belt when they reach 135 cm (4’ 5”) tall.
• Any other child must use a car seat/booster appropriate to their weight – see the label on the seat.
There are very few exceptions
In buses and coaches with seat belts fitted, passengers aged 14 years and above must use them. Those under 14 years are strongly advised to use them.
Article culled from the SchoolRun (SR) Magazine. To subscribe to the latest edition of the SR Magazine call 0802 353 2183 or 0808 407 4769 email: info@schoolrun.com.ng ;
Follow Bcbeewoman on twitter @bcbee1 for Road Safety Education campaigns or send an email to bcbeenot@gmail.com if you would like to get involved in supporting Road safety Advocacy and reduce serious injuries and deaths on our roads!
for around the clock information about school safety!! Visit http://www.ekossp.org or email schoolsafety@schoolrun.com.ng
Be Safe & active!!!
bcbeewoman 
April 17, 2016 at 5:54 am
We urge the Government at state and Federal to look into the mirage of accidents on our roads today and fine everlasting solutions to it. However, we the road users should also be educated on how to safe our lives from road accident let drive safely and gently.
April 17, 2016 at 6:38 am
This is a good one, hope there’ll be continuity of things we all can fo as individuals and governments at different levels, to make our road safer.
April 17, 2016 at 8:05 am
The government needs to urgently ban cellphone use while driving. I mean to make it nationwide, I think its already unlawful to use cellphone while driving in Lagos State. I am an advocate of education education education on all fronts, so i sincerely, appeal to the government–ministry of transport to educate all and sundry on road safety.
April 17, 2016 at 11:04 am
Safety consciousness is to everyone’s advantage. We shouldn’t wait till were whipped by Road Safety officials. Civil responsibility means looking after ourselves within the ambits of the law.
April 17, 2016 at 12:21 pm
Well put.
But first, Government needs to show a seriousness of purpose by 1, reintroducing highways signs on all our roads, 2. Ensuring that FRSC gives driving licenses to only applicants who duly pass through approved driving schools and are certified competent in the theory (of highway codes) and the practice of driving etiquettes after a minimum training period of six to ten weeks.
This way, we would have saner, trained drivers and sign ages that guide and ensure proper and safer driving habits among Nigerians.