Ember Months: The Dangerous Driving Habits FRSC Wants Nigerians To Dump

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has urged motorists to abandon dangerous driving practices, including overloading, mixed loading, speeding and distracted driving, warning that road safety must remain a year-round responsibility beyond the Ember Months.

The Corps said its 2026 Ember Months campaign was designed not only to reduce road traffic crashes during the festive period but also to promote responsible driving habits and protect lives throughout the year.

The Corps Public Education Officer, Osondu Ohaeri, stated this in an article highlighting the dangers of unsafe transportation practices and the need for collective action by motorists, transport operators and other road users.

According to him, the increased movement of people and goods during the final months of the year places additional demands on road safety management, making enforcement, public enlightenment and emergency response particularly important.

He said the FRSC, under the leadership of Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed, had intensified attention on vehicle overloading, the unsafe combination of passengers and goods, excessive speeding and other traffic violations capable of causing preventable crashes.

“The message is clear: Surviving the Ember Months is important, but driving safely beyond them is the ultimate goal,” Ohaeri said.

He explained that overloading, whether involving passengers, goods or both, could compromise vehicle stability, affect braking performance, increase stopping distances and place additional pressure on tyres, suspension systems and other critical components.

He warned that improperly secured cargo could shift while a vehicle was in motion, destabilise it or fall onto the road, creating additional hazards for other motorists.

Ohaeri also identified mixed loading, particularly the practice of conveying passengers alongside goods in compartments not designed for such purposes, as a serious safety concern.

He said passengers travelling in cargo compartments could be exposed to falling objects, shifting loads, inadequate seating, restricted movement and the absence of appropriate safety restraints.

“Each requires a vehicle configuration appropriate to its intended purpose and compliant with applicable regulations,” he added, urging transport operators to use suitable vehicles for passengers and cargo.

The FRSC spokesman called on commercial transport operators, fleet owners, logistics companies, transport unions and individual drivers to ensure that vehicles comply with authorised seating capacities, manufacturers’ specifications and applicable weight limits.

And, also urged drivers to resist pressure to overload vehicles for additional revenue, while advising passengers against boarding vehicles whose loading arrangements compromise their safety.

Beyondoverloading and mixed loading, Ohaeri listed speeding, dangerous overtaking, driving against traffic, mobile phone use while driving, failure to wear seat belts and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs among practices motorists must avoid.

He maintained that effective road safety management required more than highway patrols, stressing the importance of responsible driving, vehicle maintenance, regulatory enforcement and public cooperation.
“No commercial gain can justify exposing human lives to avoidable danger,” he stressed.

Ohaeri said the ultimate objective of the campaign was to make motorists understand that compliance with traffic regulations was not merely about avoiding penalties but protecting families, livelihoods and the nation’s economic and social well-being.

He urged Nigerians to sustain the safety lessons of the Ember Months beyond the festive season, insisting that preventing crashes must remain a collective responsibility.