#PNN E-Mentoring (Taiwo Akinlami): Personal Safety/Self-Protection from Traffic-Related Accidents

Welcome to this page today. I think this my first outing here this year. Permit me therefore to wish you, my dear friends, very happy brand New Year. I am sure you are settling in well into the New Year. For me the year 2014 was a great year, but I have firm assurances that the year 2015 will be greater.

Let me go to the discussion of the day quickly. I was attending a program organized by Child to Child Network for children living with disabilities. It was the public presentation of a film production written and produced by these different-gifted children. It was unfortunate that one of the children, who acted in the film, was knocked down and killed by a vehicle.

It was reported in the Business Times of November 8-14, 2004 that in 2003, Federal Road Safety Commission revealed that 560 children were killed by road accidents across the country under avoidable circumstances. And according to the report, many more were permanently disabled through injuries received while walking, cycling or hawking goods on the streets close to their homes.

While I am bothered by the figure, I am more bothered by the portion of the report which says the children were killed ‘under avoidable circumstances.’ The report also tells us the circumstances under which children are injured or killed, which include ‘walking, cycling or hawking goods on the streets.’ The circumstance will also include texting on the road, playing football on the road, failure to use seat belt and the rest.  Just this weekend I saw a little child riding a bicycle on my estate with a teenager, who I suspected to be her elder brother. The brother was riding ahead of the little child. Thus, the child was without any cover or protection. Thus the road is not a busy one, but the road does not need to be busy for an accident, fatal or otherwise to occur. It is important to note that in matters relating to safety on the road, caution is more important than how busy the road is.

I do not plan to rush our discussion on this matter. I think it is important that we take our time to discuss this. Therefore, all I plan to do today is to serve the appetizer. As from next week, I will begin to share the main menu. You cannot afford to miss it. I already perceive sweet aroma. It is a delicious menu of information, which is able to preserve your life and that of those dear to you now or in the future.

Taiwo Akinlami is a Barrister & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, foremost Child Protection Specialist, Consultant to UNICEF, governments, and other leading national and international organisations on Child Protection, Independent Legal and Social Regulatory Expert on Child’s Rights and Responsibilities Issues, Legal Enlightenment & Development Enthusiast, Researcher, Social Empowerment Advocate, Author, Blogger and an accredited facilitator of the British Council School Leadership Program. Website: www.taiwoakinlami.com│Blog: www.taiwoakinlami.wordpress.com│Twitter: @taiwoakinlami