Night trips: Unsafe, utterly dangerous, says Shehu Mohammed

The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Malam Shehu Mohammed, has warned against night trips, describing such travels as unsafe and utterly dangerous.

The Corps Marshal gave the warning in a statement by the Corps Public Education Officer (CPEO) Mr Olusegun Ogungbemide on Thursday in Abuja.

Mohammed warned fleet operators, other commercial drivers and patronisers of night trips; including private vehicle owners to desist henceforth from it.

The FRSC boss, who spoke extensively on why night trips should be avoided said that the warning arose from the dangers, risks and the rising cases of fatalities occasioned by Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs) recorded at night.

He highlighted the numerous hazards associated with nighttime travel, including reduced visibility, driver fatigue, dozing off at the wheel, reckless driving, overloading, excessive speeding, and other risks that increase the likelihood of accidents.

He maintained that road crashes that occur at night were more fatal than the ones that happen in the day time.

According to him, night trips pose a significant threat to road users.

“This is due to reduced visibility, driver fatigue, sleeping on wheels, excessive speed and other factors that increase the risk of accidents.

“Avoid night trips at all cost, they are not only unsafe, but utterly dangerous.

“This warning has become necessary following some reports of fatal crashes that were recently recorded at night, which have led to the death of several road users and left others with different degrees of injuries,”

The Corps Marshal lamented that on Sept. 8, alone, an avoidable fatal crash occurred in Lapai, Niger State where four vehicles were caught up in an inferno that killed 37 people on the spot.

According to him, this crash occurred as a result of a combination of factors namely, speed violation and fatigue. We are yet to recover from the shock of the Lapai crash.

“Another one occurred on Thursday Sept. 12 killing 18 people still because of night trips. Intelligence report reveals that most fleet operators and other vehicle owners, including private vehicle owners who are addicted to night journeys, do so for selfish economic gains.

“Also, unnecessary overloading of vehicles with animals, passengers and goods to evade arrest by FRSC patrol teams.

“Although the FRSC cannot legally ban night trips, but we strongly advised those who engage in this practice to reassess their choices and schedule their journeys during the day.

“This is also due to the difficulties in providing prompt help to motorists involved in night time crashes that occur beyond FRSC’s rescue coverage areas,” he emphasised.

The CM warned passengers whose journeys could wait till the next day, to resist any temptation that could lead them into patronising fleet operators at night.

He also warned that these deaths were not only avoidable and preventable but totally unacceptable hence the need for all to take caution.

The FRSC boss reiterated the corps’ commitment to ensuring safety on Nigerian roads and urged the public to cooperate with its efforts.