The Federal Road Safety Corps in Ogun has advised motorists to reduce speed and exercise patience when approaching potholes on highways to avoid preventable crashes during the rainy season.

The Ogun sector commander of FRSC, Oludare Ogunjobi, gave the advice on Monday in Ota.

Mr Ogunjobi said the advice became necessary to remind motorists that wet roads were slippery and speed made it difficult to control vehicles, especially during the rainy season.

He urged motorists to maintain a distance of double or triple the distance between their vehicles and the car ahead to allow for extra braking time.

“The FRSC is appealing to motorists to apply common-sense speed limits by reducing their speed below the posted limit when it rains. Also, motorists should focus on extreme caution and proactive vehicle maintenance to prevent unnecessary loss of lives,’’ he said.

Mr Ogunjobi advised all drivers to check worn tyres and ensure their vehicles were weather-ready by inspecting essential components, such as windshield wipers, before embarking on any trip.

He also urged drivers to replace worn-out wiper blades immediately to maintain clear visibility on the road.

Mr Ogunjobi emphasised the need for motorists to ensure that all headlamps, brake lights, braking systems and indicators were functioning properly to stay safe during heavy rain.

He also enjoined motorists to stay away from flood-prone areas and avoid crossing running water or flooded roads to prevent crashes during the rainy season.

The sector commander further advised motorists to park safely off the road and wait for the rain to subside if it became too heavy with poor visibility.

He said that the Nigerian Meteorological Agency in April predicted a variable rainfall pattern for the year, with Ogun expected to experience a longer rainy season.

Mr Ogunjobi stressed the need for caution, noting that recent alerts from the Federal Ministry of Environment also highlighted Ogun as one of the states at risk of heavy rainfall and flash flooding during the period.

(NAN)