Gombe FRSC Issues Safety Alert as Seasonal Dust Haze Reduces Highway Visibility
GOMBE, Nigeria – The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Gombe State has issued a urgent safety alert to motorists, citing hazardous driving conditions caused by a thick seasonal dust haze that has blanketed major highways. The atmospheric phenomenon has led to significantly reduced visibility, elevating the risk of road traffic crashes across the state.
The Gombe State Sector Command of the FRSC warned that the current conditions impair driver vision and limit reaction times. In an official statement, Sector Public Education Officer Superintendent Route Commander Janet Kassa emphasized that reckless driving behaviours will not be tolerated during this period of compromised sight.
Sector Commander Samson Kaura stressed that the dust haze, while seasonal, constitutes a serious road safety threat. “This is not a routine occurrence to be taken lightly,” Commander Kaura stated. “Driving at high speed under such severely reduced visibility conditions could prove fatal.”
He advised motorists to immediately reduce speed, strictly observe prescribed limits, and adopt defensive driving practices to prevent avoidable tragedies.
The command has directed drivers to ensure their vehicles are adequately prepared for the harsh weather. Specific instructions include verifying that headlights, tail lights, and brake lights are fully functional and illuminated, even during daylight hours, to enhance vehicle conspicuity. Motorists are also instructed to increase following distances, maintain clean windshields, and avoid dangerous manoeuvres such as wrongful overtaking and any form of distracted driving.
This seasonal dust haze, often associated with the Harmattan wind period in West Africa, typically reduces visibility to just a few metres on affected roads. The FRSC’s appeal underscores the critical need for heightened public vigilance and cooperation with traffic regulations until normal visibility is restored. The corps maintains that collective adherence to safety protocols is essential to mitigate the elevated risk on Gombe State’s roads during this challenging period.
