The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has urged political parties, candidates and supporters to avoid reckless driving, excessive speeding, substance abuse and overloading during political campaigns.
The FRSC Sector Commander in Gombe State, Samson Kaura, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Gombe, stressing the need for political stakeholders to comply with traffic regulations throughout the campaign period.
Kaura urged political parties to sensitise their drivers and ensure that campaign vehicles are operated by properly licensed drivers. He particularly cautioned against speeding in built-up areas where children, animals and other road users could unexpectedly cross the road.
According to him, reckless driving, excessive speed and other unsafe practices during campaigns could lead to road crashes, injuries and loss of lives. He therefore urged political stakeholders to ensure that their campaign activities did not put members of the public at risk.
The sector commander also warned against driving under the influence of substances, saying substance abuse could impair vision, reduce reasoning ability and increase the likelihood of road crashes. He said drivers caught engaging in such acts would face the consequences prescribed by law.
Kaura further cautioned political parties against overloading campaign vehicles, noting that carrying supporters beyond the safe capacity of vehicles could increase the number of casualties in the event of a crash.
He said the FRSC had commenced sensitisation of political stakeholders in Gombe State as part of efforts to promote responsible driving and safer road use during the campaign period.
