01 insight january 2012

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A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF FEDERAL ROAD SAFETY COMMISSION

City for Cycling

www.frscinsight.com JANUARY 2012

www.saferoadinnigeria.org

From The Editor-In-Chief Have you ever wondered why God did not create the human legs in cycles, like the bicycle wheels? Bicycles have been around since the 1800s and an approximately 1 billion bicycles are available worldwide for the 7 billion people living presently in the globe.

When first created, bicycle as invented in 1817 by Baron Von Drais was a walking machine that was just to help Baron get around his royal garden faster. He might have thought like God, who in His infinite wisdom created the human legs, to invent his bicycle by creating two same size wheels, with the front wheel steerable, mounted in a frame which the rider straddle. Drais device was propelled by pushing the riders feet against the ground, without pedals, thus rolling him and the devise forward in a sort of gliding walk.

The modern bicycle wheel is cyclical, like the marriage ring. Depending on what you believe, the ring to some epitomizes unending love, signifying no end and no beginning. Similarly, Bicycles just as its wheels have become phenomenal as part of human existence, that has just refused to disappear into oblivion, albeit the height in automobile technology.

As we highlighted in the November, 2011 edition of Insight, bicycling is a key feature of the most industrialized societies and countries within the league of the 20 safest countries in terms of road safety. If we therefore desires as Vision 20:2020 posits to be amongst the 20 most industrialized nations, then this is the time to embrace bicycling as a mode of transportation especially in the urban centres.

This month's edition is reemphasizing why we need to align with global best practice by implementing robust bicycle usage. We also have a feature on how the traffic light control system works among other interesting stories.

Do you know the number of vehicles in Nigeria? Are you having a problem maintaining your car, you can find the answers and many others in this edition of insight. Read along as we attempt to quench your curiosity. Honesty and dedication pays. Officer Beatrice Ngozi Akataobi (SRC) of Rivers Sector Command, who is our role model staff for this edition, demonstrates in this publication why you need to be steadfast, honest and dedicated. Remember that all previous editions of Insight can be read on www.frscinsight.com

OC Oladele (DCC) Editor -in-chief/Head Planning Advisory Unit Federal Road Safety Corps

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IN THIS EDITION ■ City for Cycling - pg 4 ■ Car Maintenance Tips - pg 6 ■ Quotable Quotes - pg 8 ■ Did You Know That... - pg 9 ■ One-On-One [An Interview] - pg 10 ■ Traffic Light Control System - pg 12

Copyright & Disclaimer .

The information contained in this Newsletter has been compiled by Federal Road Safety Corps [FRSC].

It provides general information only. Some photographs and graphics contained therein are only for dramatization (i.e. may not represent any member, client, partner, facilities, employee etc. of Federal Road Safety Corps). No responsibility is accepted for the correctness and completeness of the given information. .

Copyright © Federal Road Safety Commission. All rights reserved.

Contact Details Federal Road Safety Corps National Headquaters Olusegun Obasanjo Way, Zone 7, Wuse District.

PMB 125, Abuja, Nigeria 0700- CALL - FRSC 0700 - 2255 - 3772 0807- 769 - 0362 (Text Messages Only) Email: info@frsc.gov.ng Website: www.frsc.gov.ng

EDITORIAL BOARD Osita Chidoka Corps Marshal/Chief Executive Publisher

OC Oladele (DCC) Editor–In-Chief

KD Alegieuno (ARC) Editor

Members VO Ogunnupebi (ACC) AR Obagbemiro (CRC) CB Nwokolo (DRC) DO Enakireru (ARC) 0I IKOKU (ARC)

Traffic Light Control System

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raffic lights, which may also be known as stoplights, traffic lamps, traffic signals, signal lights, robots or semaphore, are signaling devices positioned at road intersections, pedestrian crossings and other locations to control competing flows of traffic. Traffic lights were first installed in 1868 in London, and today are installed in most cities around the world. Traffic lights alternate the right of way of road users by displaying lights of a standard colour (red, yellow/amber, and green), using a universal colour code (and a precise sequence to enable comprehension by those who are colour blind). Car manufacturers and state authorities alike have tried for years to boost vehicle efficiency and improve safety of both passengers and pedestrians. While the automotive industry has evolved at a very fast pace in the last couple of years and new safety and green... See page 12

www.frscinsight.org

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City

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ollowing the Corps Marhal's approval for the participation of the Federal Road Safety Corps in the Fourth Australian Cycling Conference in Adelaide, South Australia which took place from 16 to 19 January, 2012 , EP Osawe (CC) and ES John (ARC) represented the Corps. The opening session was graced by Fiona Cohen, a director in the National Ministry of Transportation, Australia, and Rod Hook the Commissioner for planning, transport and infrastructure, South Australia amongst other top government functionaries.

The convenor of the conference; Fay Peterson a traffic Engineer, transport planner and bicycle development officer for the city of Adelaide, welcomed all delegates appreciating particularly the sacrifice of the Nigerian delegates. The representative of Lord Mayor of Adelaide welcomed all delegates to the city and advised them to articulate ideas that will translate into better cycling transportation for Australia and beyond. The Corps paper titled, “Cycling as an

Cycling ...THE AUSTRALIAN EXPERIENCE

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Urban Transport Solution; the Nigerian Perspective� was presented during the third plenary session by John Emmanuel Sanni (ARC) on behalf of the Corps Marshal. The paper attracted great attention from delegates who applauded the initiative of Nigeria's FRSC in articulating an all encompassing planning process not yet seen in other nations. Of particular note by the delegates in their series of comments was the national outlook as against municipalities in other parts of the world.

They commended the world wide study being undertaken by the Corps as well as the all inclusive stakeholder and multi dimensional approach. Member nations present were greatly encouraged to use Nigeria as a case study when the system commences. In view of the innovations seen from the papers presented, the conference broke into a roundtable session,

moderated by Peter Lumb, a lecturer at the Flinders University; each table focused on critical issues raised in the various presentation and came out with positions on each presentation. Marking the close of the program was the giving of prices (appreciation letter) to outstanding presenters, the Corps presentation is one of the three considered and appreciated.

A total of 154 delegates attended the conference held at the Science Exchange, Royal Institution of Australia, Adelaide. Delegates in attendance were from UK, Netherlands, Canada, Russia, Nigeria and the host country, Australia. Speakers cut across professional fields from the academia, practitioners, students, the government of Australia and community experts.

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car maintenance BASIC CAR MAINTENANCE TIPS TO KEEP YOU ON THE ROAD

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ar maintenance is essential whether they are new or old. It means taking good care of your car by looking after all the components engrafted in your vehicle in order to enhance its durability, reliability and performance.

The following basic car maintenance tips can help keep you on the road and out of the repair shop.

ENGINE OIL: The car engine oil remains responsible for the lubrication of engine components that reduces the friction among them and keeps the engine from overheating. But the engine oil tends to loose its lubrication power due the heat and mixing of metal particles over a period of time, thus, it is very important for the performance and longevity of the engine to change the oil strictly as per schedule. Check the oil level with the engine off and the car parked on a level surface. Open the hood, remove the dipstick, wipe it clean with a cloth or paper towel, then return it to the oil reservoir. Take it out again and see whether the level is within the acceptable range marked on the dipstick. If you add oil, don't overfill, because it can damage the engine. The oil level should be so maintained that it bends towards 'F' or Full and again be careful not to overfill it. And if you find that the level of the oil remains lower than 'Full', there might be oil leak in your car engine region. So keep the area appropriately damp but never make it totally wet. Make sure your vehicle doesn't leave any trail of oil. And if you find such a thing happening get it repaired as soon as possible. Follow manufacturer guidelines for changing the lubricant – generally, every 4,828km or three to six months.

ENGINE COOLANT: The coolant system keeps the temperature of your car engine under control and keeps it safe from overheating. The level of coolant fluid should be checked and refilled on every 48,280km – or every two to three years. Newer formulas, however, may last up to 80, 467km. To check coolant level, turn the car off and wait for the engine to cool. Locate the coolant reservoir (usually a translucent plastic tank) and eyeball the level of the coolant against the full and low indicators.

The coolant reservoir (usually a translucent plastic tank) and eyeball the level of the coolant against the full and low indicators.

BATTERY: Most car batteries today are maintenance-free, sealed and can last more than three years. The first sign your battery should be replaced is often trouble starting the engine.

TYRES: The tyre pressure should be maintained on its recommended level. A car tyre inflated to 7kg per square inch can lose 0.5kg per inch every month or for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit of temperature change, so your car maintenance checklist should include checking tyre pressure. Find the recommended level in the owner's manual or on a sticker on the driver's side door jamb. And don't forget the spare. The rotation of your car tyres is extremely essential and make it a appoint to rotate your tires every 10,000 km.

POWER STEERING FLUID: This fluid should be changed every three years or 80,467km. If you have a power steering fluid reservoir, check the level visually; otherwise, follow the dipstick method. Low power steering fluid may indicate a leak, so have your mechanic take a look.

BRAKES FLUID: Check to ensure that brake fluid levels are within tolerance. How often you need to replace brake pads or other components depends on how you drive and typical driving conditions. Warning signs of a brake problem include noise, vibration or “grabbing” when you apply the brakes. Working on your brakes is a job probably best left to the professionals.

AIR FILTER: Basic car maintenance suggests changing your air filter each year or every 19,312-24,140km. With clean air filter, your car will deliver higher power because of better combustion mixture FUEL FILTER: Replace it annually to help prevent debris from clogging your car's fuel line.

ENGINE BELT: Do check the engine belts and make sure they are not lose or free because that will affect the car performance making it operate less than what is expected. So, timely check the engine belts and strongly tight them up whenever required.

THERMOSTAT: Sometimes the thermostat of the engine gets faulty which in turn bars the engine from heating up, properly.

Get the thermostat repaired so that proper heating of the engine can be ensured.

WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WIPER FLUID: Windshield wiper care is one of the most neglected basic car care tips. Replace the blades every six to 12 months or whenever the rubber becomes worn. Check the wiper fluid reservoir every week or so and keep it full.

SERVICE SCHEDULE: Every carmaker offers a recommended service schedule with the car that contains information in tabular form regarding the exact distances or durations after which the car needed to be serviced at the company's work shop. The servicing of a car includes a thorough checking and repairing and replacement of a number of parts. Thus, it is highly recommended to strictly follow the service schedule.

By following these simple car engine maintenance tips, you can not only ensure a longer life for your engine, but will be able to keep its performance up to the mark throughout its life. Also keep in mind; never ignore the minor troubles in your car and get it repaired as soon as you confront the hassle.

Sources 1.http://carmaintenanceguide.ty

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uotes 'The difference between perseverance and obstinacy is that one often comes from a strong will, and the other from a strong won't.’ - Henry Ward Beecher 'The ear of the leader must ring with the voices of the people.' Woodrow Wilson 'Every reform was once private opinion.' Ralph Waldo Emerson 'Age is compulsory, wisdom is optional.' - Anonymous 'We are told not to cross bridges until we come to it, but this world is owned by men who have crossed bridges far ahead of the crowd.' - Anonymous 'Do not go where the path may lead; go where there is no path and leave a trail.' - Ralph Waldo Emerson 'If you are looking for a big opportunity, find a big problem.' Anonymous 'We can easily forgive a child whom is frightened of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.' - Plato 'The moral sense, or conscience, is as much part of a man as his leg or arm. It is given to all in a stronger or weaker degree.. It may be strengthened by exercise.’ - Thomas Jefferson 'A shared vision is not an idea...it is rather, a force in people's hearts...at its simplest level, a shared vision is the answer to the question 'What do we want to create?' - Peter Senge

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did you know that...

■ 111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987, 654,321

■ In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes. When you pulled on the ropes, the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on.

Hence the phrase...'Goodnight , sleep tight’

■ In the 1400's a law was set forth in England that a man was allowed to beat his wife with a stick no thicker than his thumb. Hence we have 'the rule of thumb'.

■ Many years ago in Scotland , a new game was invented. It was ruled 'Gentlemen Only....Ladies Forbidden'... and thus, the word GOLF entered into the English language.

■ Coca-Cola was originally green ■ It is impossible to lick your elbow.

■ Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history: Spades - King David Hearts - Charlemagne Clubs -Alexander the Great Diamonds - Julius Caesar

■ It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month, which we know today as the honeymoon.

■ In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts.... So in old England , when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them 'Mind your pints and quarts, and settle down. It's where we get the phrase: 'mind your P's and Q's' ■ Many years ago in England , pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim, or handle, of their ceramic cups. When they needed a refill, they used the whistle to get some service. 'Wet your whistle' is the phrase inspired by this practice.

■ At least 75% of people who read this will try to lick their elbow!

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What is your name?

Beatrice Ngozi Akataobi You are from which state?

Abia state When did you join the Corps?

I joined the corps on May 18, 1996 as a nurse.

What is your qualification?

I am a registered staff nurse midwife. I attended school of nursing, Aba and school of midwifery, Aba now Abia State University Teaching Hospital. I have worked with Nigerian Christian Hospital, Aba , a missionary hospital before joining the Corps in 1996. I first worked at the Zonal clinic in Jos and then Zonal clinic, kaduna as nurse and later in 2000 as rescue officer in RS 6.1 Rivers. In 2007, I was posted briefly as acting matron of RS 6 Zonal clinic. In September 2007, I was posted to RS 5.3, Isseleku Help Area as the matron. In 2010 optimization, I was deployed as matron to the Zonal clinic in Port Harcourt where I am presently working.

We learnt that the Zone gave you a letter of commendation.

Can you tell us why?

For my dedication and diligence to duty. Whenever I am not on duty, I make sure that I participate in all the Command's activities. I am also very good in the handling of emergencies in the clinic.

Do you think you deserve the commendation?

Yes because this is not my first commendation for dedication to work, I was issued same at Isseluku , Kaduna and Jos. I have received commendation letters in all the Commands I have worked. I learnt diligence to duty from my first ZCO, late Baffa Daneji who is my mentor; may his soul rest in peace. He was a strict disciplinarian. He always told us that hard work has its rewards and today I have seen the wisdom in that saying. Even at Isseleku, I received a handshake from the COMACE for job well done. There was a time when there was no allocation for six months and we were able to run the help area and the clinic without any hitch. Again, during the recruitment exercise, the then Sector Commander of Rivers State Sector Command, Commander Oke Sobowale specifically commended my zeal and dedication to work which helped in no small way to the successful management of the recruitment exercise.

What advice do you have for other staff especially those who are not committed to work?

Nursing as a profession is closely related to road safety especially in the area of saving lives. Every staff shall one day account to God for the helpless lives that passed through his or her hand. Either such staff facilitated their recoveries or led them to untimely death due to negligence and non commitment to duty. There is certainly a reward for every action taken.

For me, I feel satisfied every day I get home from work knowing that in my little way I have contributed my quota in saving human lives. My advice is that they should give in their best at all time.

The superficial opportunities of life are always pursued by mass of people seeking what is easy. BN Akataobi (SRC) is different, she puts a lot of energy and effort into getting her work done. BN Akataobi is a very simple and meticulous woman and a mother who believes in absolute commitment to her job. With her efforts came myriad commendations from the various Commands she had worked. She is one person you will like to meet. Insight crew had a chart with her recently‌

one-on-one

ONE Are you married?

Yes, I was but I am a widow now. I lost my husband in 2009. We have three kids, a boy and two girls. My son is in 300 level in FUTO studying technological and financial management. His immediate younger sister is 13 years old and she is in SS1. My last daughter is 9 years old and she is in primary four. The three are living with me.

How do you cope as a single mother?

It's a testimony that God has been very wonderful and faithful to me. After my husband's death, I have been managing my salary by planning ahead. I even pay my children's school fees upfront. Indeed, God has been faithful to me.

Is there assistance coming from any quarter especially with respect to your children's school fees?

No, not at all Did you contact ROSOWA for assistance?

I did not

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an interview With BN Akataobi (SRC)

Who are your role models?

People that are disciplined, truthful and open minded. A welfare officer who does not relate with subordinates on the basis of where they come from. People that assist others without necessarily knowing you or asking you of your place of origin. A person like late Commander Baffa who was a strict disciplinarian is indeed my role model. With Commander Baffa then, if you did not sign the attendance register he would not allow you to collect your salary. Today I cannot imagine myself coming to work without signing the attendant register. This has exonerated me in many occasions.

How do you see FRSC in the next 100 years?

To be frank, ISO 9001 has made me to know about the job and my expectation. Even in the clinic we did not know much about our job schedules but ISO has solve that problem now, things are clearer now. I believe that staff will make a big career from the Corps. The introduction of IT in the Corps by COMACE has made most us more interested in the job and has enhanced our job productivity. I see road safety officers and men as leaders in the nearest future.

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Trafficlight CONTROL SYSTEM

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raffic lights, which may also be known as stoplights, traffic lamps, traffic signals, signal lights, robots or semaphore, are signalling devices positioned at road intersections, pedestrian crossings and other locations to control competing flows of traffic. Traffic lights were first installed in 1868 in London, and today are installed in most cities around the world. Traffic lights alternate the right of way of road users by displaying lights of a standard colour (red, yellow/amber, and green), using a universal colour code (and a precise sequence to enable comprehension by those who are colour blind).

Car manufacturers and state authorities alike have tried for years to boost vehicle efficiency and improve safety of both passengers and pedestrians. While the automotive industry has evolved at a very fast pace in the last couple of years and new safety and green systems emerged, there's another way to work on these two particular areas: traffic lights. We've all heard of traffic lights and chances are that most drivers hate them. They have the notion that traffic light

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blocks you from reaching your destination faster, makes you burn more fuel and sometimes, they force you to wait for several minutes in a huge traffic jam at a larger intersection.

with dial timers to be able to keep a specific colour for a given period of time. Dynamic traffic light control systems on the other hand are more appropriate for the crowded traffic we're facing every morning, as they have been developed specifically to be able to adapt their settings to traffic conditions. In case you are driving at a rush hour and you're seeing green all the way from office to home, you're in luck: dynamic signals have turned all traffic lights to green to maintain traffic flow.

Beyond these perceptions, we must accept that traffic lights are playing a key role, not only for the overall safety of traffic, but also for pedestrians who wish to cross a road without putting their lives at risk. While there are multiple traffic lights systems around the world, we're not going to talk about them, but about the way they are controlled or, if you prefer, the magic that lies underneath their cases or the spell that makes them turn green when a car approaches. Although in some regions authorities and various companies have started testing innovative traffic light control systems, there are usually two different modes adopted by most nations on the planet: fixed time and dynamic control. Let's take them one at a time and see the differences.

As compared to fixed time control systems, the foundation of a dynamic system is actually a detector, which is nothing more than a simple device that communicates with the traffic light and informs it about traffic conditions in real time. This time, the traffic light can not only adjust timing, but also solve traffic jams by turning red as soon as an intersection gets stuck with cars. There are two different types of detectors, embedded into the road surface and mounted above the road.

A fixed time traffic light control system is that boring and oldfashioned way in which traffic lights are configured to turn on the green colour after a given period of time, usually around 30 seconds, but this may very well vary depending on traffic values and region. Fixed time traffic light control systems relied on what it's being called an electro-mechanical signal controller. In plain English, it's a less complicated controller with components that can move (hence the “mechanical� term), but also

The first ones are nothing more than simple devices using inductive loop, so they have the ability to send information to the traffic-light unit when a car passes over it. This way, the traffic light which already has the power to control timing all by itself, knows for sure whether there's a queue of cars waiting for the green light or there are no cars at all, thus acting accordingly. Or simply said, if there's a car on the road, the traffic light sees it.

www.saferoadinnigeria.org

INSIDE FRSC

| IN THE NEWS | DECADE OF ACTION | PUBLICATIONS | SPEECHES |

LIFESTYLE

| PHOTO SPEAKS | MANY MORE

INTRODUCING

www.frscinsight.com 01 | To create awareness on the many issues and challenges of safety on roads.

02 | To create adequate, systematic and effective awareness on the many achievements made so far by the FRSC towards actualizing the Decade of Action For Road Safety.

03 | To involve the stakeholders in actualizing the Decade of Action on Road Safety by communicating the parts they could play in the process and getting their feedback on the activities of FRSC. 04 | To give the global audience deep insight and fresh perspective on FRSC activities 05 | To promote transparency in FRSC and project the organization's image positively.

06 |To give the employee a strong of sense morale and accomplishment