The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has announced a partnership with the Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital in Kaduna to introduce mandatory psychiatric evaluations for motorists and other road users in the state.
Kabir Yusuf-Nadabo, the Kaduna Sector Corp Commander, emphasized the importance of this collaboration during a visit to the Medical Director of the hospital. He stressed the need for effective cooperation to ensure the safety of citizens and to make the highways safer for motorists and other road users. According to him, individuals caught ignoring traffic lights, driving against traffic, or using mobile phones while driving will face appropriate punishments, including license seizure, hefty fines, imprisonment, and compulsory psychiatric evaluations.
Nadabo expressed concern about the significant number of road accident victims who are individuals in their productive age, largely caused by reckless driving. He highlighted the urgency of addressing reckless driving and emphasized the need for a cultural shift to prioritize the sanctity of lives, as a means to mitigate the prevalence of road accidents.
Dr. Aishatu Yusha’u Armiya’u, the Medical Director, emphasized the need for urgent attitudinal change among Nigerians to prioritize road safety. She attributed the high rate of road crashes to negligence and recklessness by drivers, commending the FRSC for its unwavering commitment to enforcing traffic rules and regulations.
The medical director acknowledged the challenges of achieving compliance with traffic laws in Nigeria and emphasized the significance of responsible leadership and individual attitudinal changes for creating a safer road culture.
In addition, she lauded the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for the ban on alcoholic drinks in sachets, attributing drivers’ involvement in drugs to the availability of such drinks. She expressed optimism that the ban would encourage drivers to adopt more careful driving habits, thereby reducing recklessness on the roads.
The collaboration between the FRSC and the psychiatric hospital signifies a proactive approach to addressing road safety concerns in Kaduna. It underlines the importance of incorporating mental health assessments into the process of ensuring safer roads, while also emphasizing the need for societal and regulatory support in cultivating responsible citizenship and safer road behaviors.
