In continuation of activities to reduce road safety infractions, crashes and related deaths associated with the ’ember months’, the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps’ TRACE, Ijako Unit on Tuesday 7, visited the Community High School, Sango Igbala, to enlighten students on road safety, aimed at stemming the number of road crashes involving students and its associated trauma.
Officers from the Unit Command took turns to deliver the message of CDR. Seni Ogunyemi, TRACE Corp’s Commander/CEO on road safety to students of the school, drumming the need to be safety conscious that would save their lives from becoming victims of voidable deaths in road crashes.
Cdr. Aduroja Ariyo who is the Unit Commander of the Ijako Unit said, “The safety of children on our roads is very important to us as a Traffic Management Agency, prompting this exercise on Safety, while safety is defined as protecting from harm.
“My first advice is that you should not be found on any overloaded commercial motorcycle popularly known as Okadas because some of the riders carry up to three passengers, especially students who they consider as people with smaller statures that can be squeezed to provide more passengers for them and often they do not use protective helmets,” Aduroja said.
She further highlighted that the same goes for Tricycle, known as Keke Marwa which are also guilty of overloading passengers, advising them to disembark from such Tricycle if they get overloaded to avoid getting involved in crashes that are often fatal, leading to deaths and permanent disabilities.
Stressing that “Those among you privileged to have bicycles should mind how you ride it, ensuring that you do not ride them beyond your streets at home, or ride on the highways to avoid impoundment of the bicycle by TRACE.
In his lecture, CDR. Akinbobola Lawrence, the Head of Operations at the Command said, “A road user is everyone who uses the road as a pedestrian, Motorist, traffic Manager and others. However, there are laws regulating the usage of the roads to enhance sanity, prevent chaos and improve safety, parts of the laws say, you should avoid backing vehicle traffic while walking on the highway so you can save yourself from being hit by oncoming vehicles from behind.
“You are also advised not to walk in Chesters by the highway to avoid narrowing the highway for free traffic flow and getting knocked down by impatient drivers.
Akinbobola, gave safety tips for crossing the road, stating that, “every time you want to cross the road, you should look out for the nearest
Zebra crossing, a Pedestrian bridge or a Traffic Manager Police, VIO, or Traffic Assistant who can assist you in crossing the road, however In case you do not find any of these, you should look to the right, the left and right again before crossing.”
To round up the sensitisation exercise’, Cdr. Dosumu Olalekan, The Corridor Commander, Ijako Unit of TRACE, said,
“I would like to add to all that you have heard, that you should wear reflective
clothing when walking by the roadside at night to enhance visibility to
oncoming night drivers and these colours are recommended; white, yellow, lemon and avoid wearing black colours at night.*
He revealed that TRACE as a traffic Agency would be starting Road Safety Clubs in schools in Ota,
with the school inclusive to bring regular education on road safety to schools in Ota, with the introduction of debate, quizzes and other games on road safety.
Mr. Ibrahim Oseni, the Principal of the School appreciated the Agency for coming to the school and humbly admitted that the teaching was quite revealing and liberating not only for the students but to the teachers also
