The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has advised motorists to reduce their speed limits from over 120 kilometres per hour to between 40 and 60 kilometers per hour to save lives and protect the properties of road users.

The sector commander in Rivers state, Inyang Umoh, gave the advice on Thursday in an interview with journalists in Port Harcourt.

Mr Umoh said that the sector had done a lot in public enlightenment programmes, discovering that most road users don’t appreciate or understand what they need to do to safeguard themselves, their properties, and those of other motorists.

“We have upped our game when it comes to public enlightenment on radio, print media, television, and also in stakeholder relationships.

“The message on safety is everybody’s responsibility. This is why we collaborate with other sister agencies to ensure safety on our roads,” he said.

The commander noted that, statistically, road traffic crashes claim more lives than any other economic activity in the country.

He urged the public to appreciate the importance of road safety to reduce the rate of fatalities on the roads.

Mr Umoh said that the actions and inactions of road users contribute to the high rate of road accidents nationwide.

The commander stated that the vision of the agency was to ensure a safe motoring environment and achieve zero deaths on the roads in the event of a crash.

According to Mr Umoh, “If there is a crash, we are so concerned that the crash will not result in road traffic deaths. This is why we preach the reduction of speed while driving.

“If motorists maintain a minimum speed limit of what we call the ‘common sense speed limit,’ depending on the environment they find themselves in, then in the event of brake failure or any emergency, it will be controllable. Or if there is a crash, the impact will be minimal, without loss of lives.

“When you are going into built-up areas like markets or streets, your speed limit should not be more than 40 to 60 kilometers per hour,” the commander said.

He urged the public to be cautious, whether as pedestrians, drivers, or passengers.

Mr Umoh also advised passengers to speak up against dangerous driving, as crashes kill more passengers than drivers.

“We encourage passengers to speak up, whether in a tricycle or a vehicle, if the driver is driving recklessly.

“The theme of the last Ember Month campaign we had was about passengers. It says, ‘Speak up against dangerous driving—crashes kill more passengers than drivers.’ This statement is a traceable truth.

“In a vehicle that has 18 passengers, only one survivor may escape, which is usually the driver, if there is a crash,” he explained.

The commander stated that the agency recorded a limited number of crashes and few fatalities during the yuletide period due to campaigns and sensitization efforts against reckless driving.

According to him, roads do not understand language or recklessness, but if people observe road safety rules, they will drive from point A to B without crashing.

“My message to the public as we enter the new year is: let’s be safety-conscious. Don’t struggle with anybody on the road. Allow any driver that doesn’t want you to go ahead. If you can lose 10 minutes to save your life, you lose nothing,” he said.

(NAN)