The senior special assistant to the Kogi governor on road safety matters, Yusuf Suberu, has urged motorists to exercise maximum caution during the rainy season to avoid preventable crashes.

The governor’s aide, on Monday in Abuja, explained that the season typically presents unique challenges, including slippery roads, flooding, reduced visibility, and frequent vehicle breakdowns.

According to him, Kogi’s central location as a gateway between the North and South makes the state’s highways some of the busiest in the country. This, he said, thereby required a heightened vigilance during adverse weather conditions.

“The rainy season increases the risks of road crashes because of reduced traction, obscured road markings, and the tendency of vehicles to skid when brakes are applied suddenly. Overspeeding, dangerous overtaking, and poor vehicle maintenance under these conditions often lead to fatalities,” he said.

Mr Suberu, however, stressed the need for motorists to carry out routine checks on their vehicles, paying particular attention to tyres, wipers, lights, and brakes. He warned against the use of worn-out or expired tyres, noting that such negligence had been a major cause of fatal accidents on wet roads.

He further advised drivers to reduce their speed, maintain a safe distance between vehicles, switch on their headlights during downpours or cloudy weather, and avoid crossing flooded portions of the road.

The SSA also urged commercial transport operators to desist from embarking on night journeys in the rainy season.

He, however, warned that the combination of fatigue, poor visibility, and slippery roads increases the chances of accidents.

Highlighting the Kogi government’s efforts, Mr Suberu disclosed that his office was collaborating with the Federal Road Safety Corps, transport unions, and traditional rulers to intensify sensitization campaigns.

This, he said, would be across motor parks, schools, and communities in the state and its environs. He added that the state government, under Governor Usman Ododo, was committed to improving emergency response services and providing an enabling environment for safer road use.

“Road safety is not the responsibility of the government alone. It is a collective task we must all carry out in our respective ways and capacities. If we all take precautionary measures, especially during this rainy season, we will save lives, protect our families, and preserve the state’s socio-economic stability,” Mr Suberu said.

The governor’s aide called on media organisations and civil society groups to join hands with the government in spreading safety messages that would influence positive behaviour among road users.

(NAN)