Beware; Abuja Airport Road, others are not race tracks

When the Abuja Airport road was converted from two lanes to five lanes, many people were excited by the development and that attracted many, to move to that axis to stay because it was traffic jam-free.

Things were going fine but little do they know that that will only last so soon. The road which was meant to make life easy for motorists have eventually been turned to a race track by some drivers.

Our correspondent reported that five accidents happened between Aleita and Lugbe within 20 minutes on the second Friday of January, while he was going to Gwagwalada.

According to her, a vehicle being driven by a military man was hit behind by another driver on the fast lane, as they were trying to sort things, another vehicle rammed into another one some few kilometres from them.

While the men of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC were on ground to see how they could quickly tidy up things, so that the road can be free for traffic, another vehicle from nowhere with high speed hit a pillar and somersaulted.

Some of the FRSC men quickly rushed to the scene and also mobilized for Rescue team to join in the operation. Before our correspondent left, the FRSC men have been able to clear the road.

Meanwhile, as our correspondent was on her way, she saw two other cars that fell into the drainage separately. They must have fell into the ditch the night before that day and that could have been caused by drunk-driving, brake failure or any other thing.

It is really worrisome that despite the presence of the FRSC men stationed at every point on that road, accidents are still happening, not because they are not doing their job well but because some people have turned the Airport Road to Race Track.

The FRSC definitely cannot be everywhere and cannot be teaching people how to drive on daily basis. They can only do the little they can, say 20% while the 80% is left with the motorists. Motorists must take responsibility on what they do while on the steering.

It has been discovered that despite all the efforts by the FRSC, many are still driving and making calls or chatting. To reduce accidents on our roads, motorists must be discipline and considerate when driving and see the other road users as their brothers and sisters and not enemies as some make it to look.

Kudos must be given to the men of the FRSC, if not for their presence on the Abuja Airport Road, many lives would have been lost.

However, the FRSC should reach out to government establishments whose drivers drive recklessly on the Abuja Airport. They do not only drive recklessly but are always on speed trying to meet up with their bosses’ flight and to pick them from the airport hence inconveniencing other road users while some had accidents trying to avoid them.

The FRSC should make them understand that the roads whether Abuja Airport Road, Nyanya Road, Kubwa Road or any other road are not RACE TRACK where they do motor racing otherwise many lives will be lost on daily basis.

Others also should keep to road ethics to avoid or reduce accidents on the roads. Let’s join with the Corp Marshal, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi and the FRSC to reduce accidents to the barest minimum, by making our roads safe for everyone. Prevention is better than cure.