Adults, parents responsible for children death —FRSC

The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Eket Unit, said that parents and adults should be held responsible for the death of children from road crashes in the country.

The Eket Unit Commander, Mr Lucky Ugenlo told newsmen that the rate of children involved in road traffic deaths are three times higher in developing countries than in the developed countries.

He lamented that some adults do not take adequate care of children by ensuring their safety while on the road.

“Some parents allow their under-aged children to drive their vehicles without going through a certified driving school.

‘You can even see some adults carrying little children without winning their glasses up and children being what they are, play, stand-up, bring out their hands or head from the vehicle and this is not proper.

“Who is responsible for this death, is the adults that are not managing the children well, that is why the UN declared one week for children and road safety.

“Some of our motorists need to acquire proper traffic rules to enable them operate safely on our roads,’’ he said.

Ugenlo said the command had visited schools and churches in the area to sensitise families on how to keep their children safe from road traffic crashes.

The commander cautioned parents to desist from keeping their child between their stomach and steering while driving.

“Parents who keeps a child between the stomach and the steering, is jeopardising the life of the child and not saving the child.

“If you obey road traffic laws, you will not kill yourself or jeopardise the lives of other road users and driving will be a joyous act in the country,’’ he said.

He advised motorists to drive carefully so that the nation would attain its desire of enthroning accident free roads.

Ugenlo noted that the commission would not hesitate to prosecute any motorists that disobeyed the traffic rules to serve as a deterrent to others.