Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, has described public education on behavioural change for drivers as key to creating safer roads.
Oyeyemi made the declaration on Thursday while speaking at the public presentation of a book, “The Essentials of Road Safety Awareness in Nigeria”, authored by Samson Dairo, Sector Head, FRSC Driver’s Licence Centre, Onireke, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Oyeyemi, represented by the state Commander of the FRSC, Oluwafemi Adekanye, said the Corps 2022 Corporate Strategic Goal has one of its objectives to create safer road users by tackling behavioural risk factors in driving with an explicit focus on public education.
He said awareness is a pivotal measure and significant technique for achieving public enthusiasm and support towards the attainment of a defined goal, especially in enhancing road safety in Nigeria.
He added that “the growing problem of road traffic crashes requires practicable and sustainable efforts by everyone in arresting this ugly tide that has impacted negatively on family life.”
Oyeyemi said the book, “The Essentials of Road Safety Awareness in Nigeria”, is “a timely, relevant and commendable contribution as it attempts to address road traffic injury prevention through public awareness.
“This book is a timely, relevant and commendable contribution as it attempts to address the problem of awareness towards the prevention of road traffic injury by guiding road users.
“Such interventions are required to solve road traffic problems in Nigeria,” adding that the book will be of immeasurable value to drivers, other road users and policymakers.”
He said the book will also help reinforce the strong conviction of the FRSC that public awareness can have a dramatic impact on road traffic injury reduction.
In his welcome address, Oyo State Corps Commander, Oluwafemi Adekanye, said the book will complement the multifaceted approach by FRSC in its efforts at increasing road safety awareness, vis-à-vis its aggressive campaign programmes.
“This book, titled “The Essentials of Road Safety Awareness in Nigeria”, is a masterpiece on road safety enlightenment and education.
“The author is highly qualified, experienced, and professionally tilted toward the theory and practice of road safety administration and management,” Adekanye said.
The chairman of the occasion, Overseer Dr Ebenezer Okebukola, also said the book was timely, noting that road safety awareness concerned and involved every member of society.
Okebukola, a former Oyo State Head of Service, urged road users to imbibe the spirit of an obedient driver to ensure their personal safety and the safety of other road users.
Director-General, Operation Bursts (Oyo State), Mr James Akande, said such a book by Samson Dairo will go a long way to further enlighten the people on road safety awareness.
The book reviewer, Professor Christopher Agulanna of the Department of Philosophy, University of Ibadan, described the author as a prolific writer who has written several other books.
Other speakers at the event, included Deputy Commandant, Immigration, Yahaya Muhammed; Chairman, ATIBOL Nig Ltd, Mr Gabriel Adewunmi; Professor S. A. Balogun; and a former boss of the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), Oyo State, Engineer Opatola, all of whom commended the author for coming out with the book.
