The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has issued a safety advisory urging motorists to conduct thorough vehicle checks and adopt defensive driving as the rainy season advances across parts of Nigeria. Osondu Ohaeri, the Corps Public Education Officer, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Abuja. He stressed the need for heightened caution, advising drivers to perform pre-trip inspections to ensure roadworthiness. Tyres, according to Ohaeri, are a critical safety component, and any defect could undermine vehicle stability and put passengers at risk. He directed motorists to verify the condition of brakes, headlamps, rear lights, and windscreen wipers, especially for night travel during rainfall. Poor visibility and wet road surfaces significantly increase crash risks, making alertness and vehicle maintenance essential, he said. Defensive driving should be applied at bends, junctions, and busy corridors, with drivers remaining aware of others at all times. Ohaeri emphasized that safety is a shared responsibility and called for full concentration while driving in wet conditions, warning that distractions and negligence often result in preventable accidents. "This period, safety consciousness and absolute concentration are very important before you even leave your home," he said. Proper maintenance and responsible behaviour are key to safe journeys during the rainy season, the FRSC maintained.
The FRSC's renewed focus on pre-trip checks comes despite years of similar warnings that have not reduced roadside fatalities. If routine inspections were consistently followed, the scale of rainy season crashes would not remain a recurring crisis. A call for driver discipline rings hollow without enforcement of existing vehicle safety standards.
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