File: FRSC rescue workers carry a dead person from accident scene

The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) says error of judgment on the side of motorists who overtake is the highest cause of accidents on roads.

Asst. Corps Commander, Austin Ekele, FRSC Ijebu-Ode Unit Commander made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun on Friday.

Ekele said that narrow roads, bad roads and multiple sharp bends were obvious features on the nation’s road network, which “makes overtaking a risky and dangerous venture’’.

“Error of judgment in traffic has been identified as the deadliest error in driving and this error has led to many crashes on our roads.

“This occurs when a driver fails to calculate correctly the speed of an approaching vehicle while attempting to overtake a vehicle ahead of him.

“Where an assumption is relied upon for judgment, there are bound to be fatal mistakes which could lead to road traffic crashes.

“As a driver, you must exercise extreme caution and patience before committing to overtake as the manoeuvre can backfire with any slightest misjudgement,” he warned.

Ekele said that the only way to safeguard oneself was to adhere to prescribed speed limit, while calling for attitudinal change on the side of motorists and cyclists.

The FRSC boss also warned drivers against driving ‘one way’, in the direction prohibited by law as a way to cut corners or create short cuts.

He described the act as being insensitive to the safety of other road users, who would be forced to face the oncoming vehicle thereby causing head-on collision.

“It is important we recognise that there is no short cut to safety other than to obey traffic rules and regulations for us to stay alive,” he said. (NAN)