By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has urged Nigerians to drop the negative habit of cell-phone snapping or videoing of an accident scene but rather help to rescue the victims.

The Sector Commander of FRSC, Enugu State Command, Mr Joseph Udoabba, made the call on Thursday in Enugu while speaking on the 2021 World Day for the Remembrance of Road Traffic Victims.

This year’s theme is, “Act for Low Speeds/Act for Low Speed Streets while this year’s slogan is, “Remember, Support and Act”.

Udoabba said that the immediate attention given to accident victims matters most in terms of their recovery and stability after the incident.

He noted that helping accident victims to nearby medical facilities timely remains “a noble humanitarian act.”

According to him, the corps is appealing to the elderly to educate the younger generation that those passing through accident situations are passing through pain and, at times, they are in between life and death.

“Road users should be sober, support the weak and accident victims on the road; that is the best way to share responsibility on the road,” he said.

He also urged all stakeholders using the road to imbibe good road habits, as well as accommodate other road users, adding: “The road is meant to be used by all, not only motorists.”

“Pedestrians should look carefully before crossing the road and ensure that while walking along the road, they should face up-coming traffic in order to see movement of vehicles clearly.

“Motorists should drive under controlled speed, even where the road is very clear and a low speed of about 30 kilometer per hour in human activities built-up areas like streets and public/school complexes,” he said.

The sector commander, however, appealed to members of the public, especially motorists to desist from the habit of offering bribe or other gratifications to FRSC officers and men as they carry out continuous enlightenment on good road habits.

“We have a lot of situations where motorists induce our officers and men with bribes instead of waiting a few minutes to be properly educated against a bad road habits or the need to have a vital component in their vehicles,” he said.

On the 2021 World Day for the Remembrance of Road Traffic Victims in Enugu State, Udoabba said that the command has dedicated two weeks for massive road safety education in major road corridors in the state.

“On Saturday, Nov. 20, a joint regular and Special Marshals, as well as Road Safety Officers' Wives Association (ROSOWA) team, would be visiting the National Orthopedic Hospital, Enugu, to see accident victims and members of their families.

“We are going to talk to them and give them hope that tomorrow will be better and for the fact they are still alive means they will recover and get back to their normal lives.

“On Sunday, Nov. 21, we are going for a thanksgiving and road safety awareness sensitisation in a church within Enugu metropolis,” he added.