Residents of Ondo State have been urged to prioritise personal safety and that of other road users during the remaining months of the year, popularly known as the Ember months.

The call was made by a cross-section of experts in an interview with Orange FM, who stressed that strict adherence to traffic regulations would help prevent reckless driving and reduce road crashes.

The Ember months are often associated with increased road hazards, as excessive speeding, negligence and the rush to meet year-end financial targets contribute to dangerous driving practices.

Commercial drivers who abruptly stop on highways to pick up passengers have also been identified as a major risk to road users.

The Ondo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Samuel Ibitoye, said road safety was not the sole responsibility of drivers, noting that passengers also had a role to play by speaking up against reckless driving.

Ibitoye added that the corps was intensifying advocacy during the Ember months campaign through partnerships with churches, schools and other organisations to promote safe road use.

The Special Adviser to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Emergency and Safety Enforcement, Wellington Adebanwo, urged motorists to ensure their vehicles were roadworthy through regular checks of brakes, tyres, lights and steering systems, with faulty components replaced promptly to prevent mechanical failures.

On health safety, a medical practitioner, Oluwasegun Folusho, advised motorists to monitor their health conditions closely to prevent medical emergencies behind the wheel that could result in road crashes.

Other stakeholders called for sustained collaboration among government agencies, community leaders and law enforcement officers in public enlightenment campaigns to ensure compliance with traffic regulations.

They emphasised that prioritising road safety during the Ember months and beyond was essential to protecting lives and preventing avoidable crashes.