Dateline was October 30, 2024. Event was the breakfast meeting organised by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in partnership with BusinessDay Media. The theme was Smart Road Infrastructure and Commuters’ Right to Safer Journeys. And the venue was at the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution hall, Abuja
The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Usman Mohammed, the amiable man of the moment, set the ball rolling by reminding the change in the enlightenment mode from the hitherto conventional method by the corps during festive periods.
He recalled that the FRSC used to go to motor parks and liaise with the various stakeholders on the need to ensure reduction in road accidents and carnage. But now he said the corps has decided to up the ante and expand the scope of enlightenment by involving the mainstream and social media this time around.
As the Christmas festivities are approaching, the corps marshall said the breakfast meeting was aimed at stimulating conversations on how smart road infrastructure can improve road safety.
“’You will agree with me that the theme of this conversation: “Smart Road Infrastructure and Commuters’ Right to Safe Journeys,” is timely considering the current global dynamics in road transport.”
According to him, there was need for every road user to ensure that road safety remains a priority. “I have no doubt that this breakfast meeting will offer a valuable opportunity for stakeholders to exchange ideas on the role of smart infrastructure in reducing road traffic crashes as well as addressing the persistent challenges that compromise highway safety.”
The corps marshal recalled that road transportation remains the predominant transport mode in the country. This is because it is the most accessible and the most interconnected transport system facilitating trade and investment as well as movement of persons.
He noted that the road transport system is overly stressed; and this accounts for the alarming road traffic crashes.
Shehu Mohammed said in pursuant to the objective of making the roads safer, the smart road infrastructure was evolved to make the interface between the vehicles, the roads and the commuters seamless.
The smart road infrastructure defines the innovative ideas and futuristic vision for road transportation system where the vehicle, the road and the commuters interconnect to improve safety on our highways.
He explained that the smart infrastructure include speed sensors, acoustic sensors, IP CCTV cameras, smart traffic lights, E-tolling condition, weather monitoring systems, and digital signage help cities adapt long-term sustainable transportation needs by improving congested roadways, streamlining traffic flow as well as improved services and emergency response.
He said therefore the timing of the meeting could not be more appropriate especially, as the Corps digitizes its operations in line with the President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for economic growth.
It is significant to note that this meeting also aligns with the FRSC’s ongoing Ember Months campaign, focused on empowering commuters to know their rights and speak out against reckless driving through the instrumentality of the recently launched FRSC Mobile Application.
In order to sustain its operations, FRSC needs to re-evaluate and adapt new strategies to align with the dynamics of contemporary transport system.
He expressed appreciating to all the stakeholders for their contributions towards ensuring a safer motoring environment in Nigeria. ‘’Your support has contributed to the successes we have achieved so far. I wish to appreciate our dear friends from the media, especially the management and staff of Business Day Media, for the continued support and collaboration. I believe strongly that this deliberation will provide the needed input in our collective responsibility to make our roads safer, smarter and reliable.’’
He therefore used the occasion to formally flag-off the 2024 Ember Months sensitisation campaign themed “Speak Up against Reckless Driving: Crashes Kill more Passengers than Drivers”.
Earlier in his welcome address, the publisher of BusinessDay Media, Frank Aigbogun, appreciated the cooperation of the FRSC with the mainstream media in highlighting the values of safe driving on the roads.
He said the media is a worthy partner with the corps in ensuring the reduction of carnage and accidents on the highway. While commending the leadership of the corps, Aigbogun said FRSC cannot do it alone as it needs the cooperation of the media and other stakeholders in ensuring the reduction of carnages on the roads.
In his goodwill message, the Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone said technology has made it easier for motorists who disregard traffic rules as they no longer needed to be pursed or flagged down, but will have no option than to pay the fines whenever they are about renewing their drivers’ licences or vehicle papers.
He said gadgets have been installed in strategic locations in the FCT that traffic offenders will no longer go scot-free when they disobey traffic rules. He said neither the FRSC personnel nor the VIO officers and/or police need to pursue traffic offenders henceforth.
The Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 7, Igwe, said there was need for all the agencies involved in ensuring smooth traffic operations on the highway to work together so as to make the operation smooth thereby reducing road crashes and accidents on the highway.
The representative of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) said the agency in its effort to reduce accidents on the highway, has developed model parking wedge that heavy duty vehicles can use when they park their broken down trucks on the highway.
He said the wedge can be retrieved after broken vehicle have been repaired and removed from the road instead of using stones or log of woods which the drivers always abandon thereafter.
Other stakeholders at the breakfast meeting included the National Association of Road Transport Owners, (NARTO), National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Road Transport Employers of Nigeria (RTEAN) and the National Automotive Design and Development Council, (NADDC). Others were the National Data Protection Commission (NDPC) and National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). They all gave their views in making the highway safe.
At the end of the day, Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed was commended by all the stakeholders for bringing innovation and technology into road safety project.
Abdul, an Abuja based journalist, writes via abduljelil2001@gmail com
