By Usman Ibn Lapai
Kaduna
Automobile and Touring Club of Nigeria (ATCN) has re-emphasised that it “promotes safety on the Nigerian roads for motorists and other road users,” saying that it had trained over 800 students to ensure safety on the roads.
It disclosed this at a recent two-day training workshop entitled: “General Road Safety for Children” held at the Murtala Square in
Kaduna, adding that no fewer than 40 secondary schools benefitted from the programme.
Addressing the students, the ATCN Club President, Mr. Ishaku Bamaiyi, said the programme had been designed to teach and train the students the practical ways for road safety.
He said: “The key objective of this training programme is for us to learn how to ensure our safety on the roads as we go about our daily activities that involve crossing or using the roads. This is because we all cross the road in one way or the other any time we go to school, or travel, or go to the markets to buy something.”
A Consultant Corps Marshal Partner, Mr M. Okoye, observed that the road safety situation was enough reason for such a public enlightenment programme for the kids, “because it would teach them how to be responsible in terms of safety of their lives and others around them.”
Also speaking, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kaduna Command officer, Mrs Maureen Okoye, emphasised the need for children to join Road Safety Club.
She said: “The primary purpose of RSC is public enlightenment and education. Members of the club can be drawn from among Students, NYSC, and other volunteers.”
Blueprint reports that the students were also taught on how to avoid unnecessary risks on the road as that could lead to accident. They were also thought on the uses of seatbelt and why it was important to use it at all times; what to do to be safe on the road, which included obeying traffic rules, avoiding distractions, using road signs, amongst others.