Safer Road, Fuller Lives

One of the fantastic ills plaguing our society today is road accident claiming lives and property. Indeed, the menace of road accident is seriously and dangerously threatening the very existence of our very own society. Our newspaper in screaming headlines, report daily on the incidence of road accident occasionally all over the country. Lives are forget about safe? Can one day pass without a road accident? There exists a general feeling of insecurity on our roads. Due to re-occurring of road accident, people have given group of suggestions concerning how the case of road accident could be checked. But do we proffer answers to something its causes have not been identified? My view, therefore, is that the causes of road accident be traced before it really is checked.

First, the deplorable state of the country's roads is unremarkable. Very narrows roads and roads without road marks or lanes are normal in this portion of the world. There are numerous instances where drivers stay away from potholes only to collide at high speed with oncoming vehicles. There are  Road Surface Markings Northamptonshire  of cases while driving; the driver will not see oncoming vehicles because of up-hilly topography on our roads. The majority of our roads are covered with trees and weed, which obstruct the sight of drivers. Can we've an area, state and federal government that will use tax payers' money to build good and durable roads? Can  Line Markings Northamptonshire  have a system where such roads will undoubtedly be maintained regularly? If the federal government of our day can spend good money to build and maintain our roads this will help life safety.

Likewise, the rate of which the tanker and trailers' drivers disturb and damage the road is alarming. If most of our roads are dualised and you can find separate roads for trailers, our roads will undoubtedly be accident free and drivers will travel smoothly. There also needs to be an alternative solution to major roads in case of any traffic jam on the road, this can prevent many motorists from spending too much time on the road.

In addition, Alcohol is really a contributor to road accident. You could have heard it often: 'drinking and driving do not mix'. Unfortunately, few people pay heed to the advice. Most accident has occurred under the influences of intoxicating drinks. The problem of alcoholic consumption by drivers is really a major threat, which includes little if any attention during the past years. The threat posed by the drunk drivers has reached an unprecedented level and Nigeria rather than witness a reduction in fatalities due to drivers driving under the influences of alcohol like most countries involved in the fighting against road safety crisis, is having a dramatic increase in road crashes. Such avoidance road crashes should be blamed on poor enforcement, which includes been largely related to insufficient breath-testing facilities, inadequate resources of the FRSC (Federal Road Safety Commission). Scientific evidence and acknowledged research findings prove that consumption of alcoholic by drivers is a contributory factor to improve in roads accident in developing countries. Countries that have experienced drastic reduction in road crashes are due to zero tolerance of alcoholic while driving and anti-drink driving. A bill should be passed compelling all alcohol manufactures to do something socially responsible either by providing a counter measure to the negative effects of these products and establishment of a company that will militarize against Drunk Driving.

Similarly, ignorance and illiteracy also contribute to the increase rate of car accident. This is a pity that many motorists perish due to insufficient knowledge. The majority of our drivers are illiterate, they do not understand for instances, traffic light, traffic rules, even the usage of vehicle light. Imagine how beautiful life will undoubtedly be if all Nigerian drivers on our roads know the importance of attending the mandatory driving school! Imagine should they could pass the driving test in theory and practical. There is a dependence on more public enlightenment for all motorists on road related regulations. Roads users must have first aid knowledge because this will go a very long way to save lots of the lives of accident victims. To an extremely appreciable extent, lack of education and non-attendance at a driving school are taking toll on human lives. Also, introducing of defensive driving technique will help prevent collisions, decrease the effect of collision and survival driving to stay alive.

Moreover, under-age and unlicensed drivers are contributing factor to road accident. Anybody who is not filled with age (below 18 years) and drivers that are even above 18 years and so are not licensed to driver on the highway ought to be prohibited from using our roads. Some drivers' carries expired driving license getting the wrong believe that once licensed, forever a driver. Parent should take keener interest in what their children do, to steer against under-age driving, drivers carrying expired driving licenses should not use the road until such licenses is renewed. Law enforcement agents ought to be up and doing on their jobs. Traffic offenders should be treated therefore without fear or favour.

Similarly, the rate of which drivers drive recklessly can't be over emphasized. Some of them see over-speeding as a display of ego, some even enjoys it. But come to think of it, how do driver control his car in the event of an unexpected obstacle on the road while driving at an extremely high speed? At times, passengers will even try to caution them but often time they prove stubborn. There should be a speed limit to which any driver should drive on the highway and anybody who violates the rule ought to be prosecuted accordingly.

We need to look into the issue of the type of vehicles used on the street. The age of the vehicle is not the problem here but the road-ability of the vehicle should be of more importance. In an extremely strict manner, vehicles that are not road worthy ought to be delivered to the recyclers ASAP. No vehicles ought to be on the road with no road lights, driving mirrors and other basic things. If utilizing a car key cannot start a car, it does not have any business on the highway to begin with. It can break down on the road at anytime and causing obstruction and accident subsequently. Similarly, any car that does fit should be thrashed. It should not be a matter of life and death to have car on the highway.

Also, night road users should be discouraged. Actually, a law ought to be made against to forbid night travelling in country like Nigeria because of the poor state of its roads. Accident occurs in a broad daylight let alone driving in the night time on poorly illuminated roads. Darkness on our roads made complicated by non-road worthy vehicle lacking driving light should be given attention, one should be able to distinguish an automobile is coming or a motorcycle.

On this note, Road safety as a subject should be advocated as part of our national school curriculum. Even while FRSC has extended her tentacles to the institution according of Road Safety Clubs, we should not relent in actually having an entrant in to the secondary and primary school curricula. Government should provide the enabling tools for FRSC to be able to facilitate easy fulfillment of road safety mandate such as communication gadgets, towing vehicles, cranes, patrol cars and the likes. Besides, government should make sure that the FRSC operatives should be adequately remunerated so as to be well motivated and dispense with, with the urgency desired.

To conclude, am optimistic that if all the solutions proffered are implemented, road accident will reduce to barest minimum if not totally eradicated. Therefore, our society will realize the goal of 'Safer Roads, Fuller Livers'.