SAFETY ON OUR ROADS
Each time we leave the convenience of our home in pursuit of our 'daily bread' not knowing what we will be up against on the road but we are filled with the expectation of coming back home to the warm embrace of our loved ones who cherish every moment we share together. However, the 'unexpected' does happen on some occasions: dreams and hopes get shattered and a 'loved one' is taken away and/or made to suffer the pain he/she never envisaged. It is in the light of this that the thoughts [that shall be expressed] in this article find anchorage. How safe are the roads in Nigeria?
There are indeed many factors that contribute to the incidence of accidents on our roads. Most notably is the state of the road and some other factors hover around weather condition; the state of the vehicles plying the road and human judgment/misgivings amongst other things. The worrisome statistics that placed Nigeria among the nations with the highest rate of road accidents fatalities should not be seen as a surprise when you consider the deplorable condition of some roads and also the carelessness and temerity exhibited by road users- tens of thousands of crahes and deaths have been recorded over the last decade in Nigeria.
The deplorable state of the road and reckless driving
Except you are living in a 'seventh heaven' in the nation, would you not have come across a road that is in an abysmal state in your state of residence as this has been a major bane in the transportation network of this nation. Potholes, depression and some other structural failures are synonymous to the Nigerian road network and even the repairs [carried out on such roads] do not usually last for a long period of time.
Nevertheless, it is necessary to point out that the recklessness displayed by road users while plying the road- whether bad or in good condition- is yet another worrisome trend that should be of utmost concern. It is quite baffling to see that even on these 'bad' roads, motorists still burst into top speed without considering the 'unstable' road- and maybe without giving a thought to the delicateness of life. Let me be quick to point out that either on 'smooth' or 'rough' road, top speed remains a dangerous and deadly.
Non-adherence to traffic regulations and signs
The gross disrespect for traffic regulations and signs is one trend that has visibly impacted safety on our roads. For instance; the speed limit sign posts are rarely given attention [in areas where they are made available] as the 'hustling and bustling' of motorists, takes preeminence on our roads on daily basis...the traffic light is another major traffic sign motorists violate.
Disregard for traffic signs is however not limited to motorists only as some pedestrians also have their share of violation: the use of pedestrian bridges have always been one of the 'gospel' the government keep preaching- I can recall vividly [during my childhood], I came across a signpost which read: 'Eba dey sweet. Use the bridge'- but the crossing of express roads remains rampant till this day and some individuals never get to make to the other side as they are unfortunately 'knocked down and out of the world'.
Condition of the Vehicles
Ensuring safety on the road requires holistic measures. As such, it would be unbalanced to streamline the cause of imperilment on the road to just the deplorable state of the road and recklessness of the motorists alone; the state of the vehicles that ply our roads must also be put into consideration. Time and again, we hear of accidents being caused by failed brake leading to loss of lives. Also, rickety vehicles are still permitted on our roads and aside the vulnerability these vehicles portend in causing accidents; the excessive carbon monoxide emitted from the exhaust also constitutes a nuisance to the health/well-being of individuals.
Slackness in enforcing the law
Although some of the regulatory agencies are really giving their best but one of the reasons why things have remained seemingly unchanging, is due to the slackness in the enforcement of certain laws...the fervency [with which regulatory agencies ensure compliance to certain rules] at the onset appears to die out with the passing of time. What we see now is that even in the presence of law regulatory agencies, road users commit varying degrees of misconduct without being brought to order. What has become of the ruling on the use of helmet [by motorcyclists]; the use of seatbelts...to mention a few that has gone [or nearly going into] dereliction?
Making our roads safe(r)
Making our roads safe(r) is incumbent upon those measures that we are conversant with but choose to neglect and/or treat with levity. They are simple and quite basic but it is the commitment and discipline that is channelled in ensuring safety on our roads that will make these measures to work. Some of these measures include:
Strict and consistent enforcement of the law.
Adhering to the penalty set for lawbreakers.
Respect for traffic rules and regulations.
Quality rehabilitation of 'bad' roads.
Evacuation of 'unfit' vehicles from the road.
To wrap this up, I will like to remind the Motorist that: 'Speed kills...go easy' and the Pedestrian: 'Eba dey sweet. Use the bridge when need be'...together we can work to make our roads safer.