The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has revealed the number of children affected in Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs).
'186,000 children under 18 years die from accidents annually' -FRSC
The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has revealed the number of children affected in Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs).
According to the FRSC Unit Commander of the Lagos Island Unit Command, Mr
He also said that these numbers are three times higher in developing countries, such as, Nigeria.
Speaking at an event, tagged: "Catch Them Young,'' Abdulrahaman stressed the need for children to be involved in road safety campaigns, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
"The Lagos State Island Command is a command whose passion for children is hinged in the belief that children are great agents of positive change, more so that the needed panacea to opportunistic crashes on our roads is attitudinal change.
So if we must cause attitudinal change, then children must be given their rightful place in the campaign against the scourge of untimely deaths on our roads.
The admixture of various categories of road users over the non-expansive traffic environment in Nigeria makes children more vulnerable to crashes, hence the need for safety education for the youth.
They (children) have enormous potential to make important contributions as advocates and implementers of the road safety vision and mission.
Children, our future leaders, must, therefore, be adequately and intellectually prepared to correct the errors of the past, by providing them with the rigid induction and orientation,'' he said.
The event, held to commemorate the 2016 Children's Day celebration, featured drama presentations and a quiz competition between Lafiaji High School; Boys High School, Epetedo; High School, Dolphin High School, Girls High School, Ikoyi and others within Lagos Island.
On the quiz competition, which involved information on the highway code, Abdulrahaman said:
"The reason the highway code was produced with pictorial explanations is because pictures aid children's understanding and learning.
It is also hoped that the various participating schools will see the need to include the highway code in their curriculum," he added.
JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!
Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:
Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng