Posted by By Bankong Obi on
National Executive Co-Ordinator, Accident Victims Rescue and Information Services (AVRIS), Captain Sunday Bamidele, has disclosed that the rate of accidents has dropped in the country.
National Executive Co-Ordinator, Accident Victims Rescue and Information Services (AVRIS), Captain Sunday Bamidele, has disclosed that the rate of accidents has dropped in the country.
The AVRIS boss attributed this to the complementary roles played by non-governmental organizations like AVRIS and others. He said, as part of efforts to save the lives of accident victims, his organization will, in December, launch a toll-free line, which will enable accident victims or witnesses call AVRIS for prompt rescue services.
Captain Bamidele disclosed that the agency's numbers would be distributed to drivers free of charge at motor parks, highways, clubs and other places. He explained that the agency has concluded modalities to recruit 1,500 staff who will be trained to beef up the operation of the humanitarian outfit.
The former pilot called for a change of attitude by Nigerians, to forestall road mishaps, blaming accidents on lawlessness, rickety vehicles and poor visibility. Other factors that cause accidents, according to him, include absent mindedness while driving, body dysfunction due to fatigue and non-adherence to the laws of nature and general traffic regulations.
On the abuse of sirens on the highways, he advised that only officers on rescue assignments should be allowed to use sirens while carrying out their duties and frowned at situations where leisure seekers use sirens to distort traffic movement and cause obstruction on the roads.
He called on motorists to acquire the AVRIS card, to facilitate prompt medial attention at its accredited hospitals. 'The cards also help rescuers contact victims of accidents with much ease. Soon, AVRIS operatives may not attend to accident victims without the AVRIS cards,' he added.
Besides providing succour to accident victims, the agency is also concerned about the twin vices of unemployment and its multiplier effects, crime and prostitution. To this end, the AVRIS helmsman said plans are underway to recruit more staff and train them to use their lives gainfully by rendering services to humanity.