JONAS AGWU

As I draw the curtain on the piece on road signs and safe driving, I must recognize government effort to address the lacuna with respect to the nakedness of our roads. But while we wait to see the outcome of current government strategy to improve roads infrastructure including road furniture as a plank for redressing road traffic crashes, we must know that Countries categorize road signs in different ways. In Nigeria for instance, road signs are categorized under these broad categories namely: Regulatory signs, which are mostly circular in shape and are of two types. Those with red circles are prohibitive signs while those with blue circles but no red signs boarder mostly give positive instructions and are mandatory signs, which are usually rectangular. They provide guidance information. In view of the high level of road traffic accident during this season, this piece cannot but be timely as it has been observed that most avoidable crashes are sometimes occasioned by not only lack of adequate knowledge of road signs, but failure of motorist to adhere strictly to the few existing road signs on our highways. Its ubiquity on our road is desirable at this point in time when the Ember Months” are already here. Motorist and pedestrians alike need these signs to achieve their ultimate aim of their various destinations safely. A renewed consciousness on compliance with road signs will to a great extent reduce carnage on our highways. Knowledge they say is power- It is these road signs that arm you with adequate knowledge of any road you are plying. When these roads signs are complied with, you can and will always reach your destinations safely. Our road signs must refle Let me start this piece by first rolling the drums for my senior colleague and friend, Assistant Corps Marshal, (Dr) Kayode Olagunju who heads the Planning, Research and Statistics department at the National Headquarters of the Federal Road Safety Corps for religiously doing what we pay him for by keeping us abreast with global road safety trend. I know a mild punishment he jokingly terms “court of injustice awaits me whenever he sees me at the Officers Mess at Gwarinpa, Abuja, the Federal capital Territory. Despite what awaits me, I make bold to acknowledge that it was his mail that jerked me up on the need to beam my searchlight on the growing global concern over deaths arising from the disease called distracting driving which is also a great worry to us at the Federal Road Safety Corps. Distracted driving ranks as one of my top five risk driving behavior which has enjoyed prominence on this page and as we gradually draw near to the season of rush in the name of end of year or Christmas celebration, I believe I owe myself and the public a duty to keep us abreast of global interventions to crash the increasing deaths. The caption for this week’s focus is not mine. It is borrowed from the Federation Internationale De L’ Automobile. If you are a follower of road safety campaigns globally ,then you will know that FIA has been on the forefront of series of far reaching road safety initiatives including its role in seat belt campaign with the FIA toolkit on seat belt. I was privileged as Sector Commander Lagos State to host its President when I accompanied my senior Deputy Corps Marshal Yemi Omidigi( rtd) sometime in about 2011 when he visited Nigeria alongside his wife. It is exciting to know that FIA Region 1 and its members clubs are currently launching a #ParkYourPhone campaign meant to encourage responsible Smartphone use in traffic. Before I dwell on the nitty gritty of this campaign, I must confess that one of my talking point for the campaign is the use of celebrities similar to what we initiated some years here in Nigeria where we have over one hundred celebrities drawn from the entertainment and the media as a plank for raising awareness: Pharrel Williams, a singer, songwriter and record producer is one of the faces of the campaign with the message; don’t text and drive #Park Your Phone. I am looking forward to a replication of this campaign within my Zone with celebrities driving the domesticated version of the campaign as a prelude to other initiatives here in J town. I don’t know if you indulge in using smartphones while driving. I also do not know if you know the dangers involved in this risky venture which has caught the fancy of drivers, pedestrians and cyclists who feign ignorance to the fact that only a few seconds of distraction can make a difference between life and death. What then is distracted driving? “Distracted driving is the act of driving while engaged in other activities that take the driver’s attention away from the road. All distractions compromise the safety of the driver, passengers, bystanders and those in other vehicles”. Using your phone while driving which is our focus for today is one of the major distracted driving habits .It kills and maims. Although our national data is not as reliable as it should be, I believe that just one death arising from the use of phone is a good example for those who care to know the danger.