If you’re packing the car for Christmas in the village or New Year’s in Lagos, listen up. December roads in Nigeria turn into a mad rush. Everyone heading home, trailers everywhere, okadas weaving like they own the place. FRSC says crashes spike hard this time, with speed, drunk driving, and bad tires killing hundreds every year. I’ve pulled together real tips for safe driving in festive periods
Get Your Car Ready Before You Move
Don’t wait for the expressway to teach you a lesson. Take the car to a trusted mechanic two weeks early. Check brakes, tires (tread depth at least 1.6mm, pressure spot on), lights, wipers, and fluids. Bad tires burst on hot tar. Common killer on Lagos Ibadan. FRSC patrols flag unroadworthy rides, so fix that expired license too. Pack a spare tire, jack, warning triangle, and jumper cables. One flat at night without these? You’re stuck for hours.
Plan Your Trip
Leave early. Beat the 6am rush out of cities. Use Google Maps for alternate routes; avoid black spots like Ore or Lokoja bridges at peak hours. Travel mid morning or early afternoon, never late night. Bandits love dark highways, and sleepy drivers crash more. Tell someone your route and ETA. Download the FRSC app or tune to 107.1FM for live traffic updates. If possible, caravan with family cars. Safety in numbers.
Drive Sober and Focused, No Excuses
Zero alcohol if you’re behind the wheel. One bottle turns you into a statistic. FRSC breathalyzers are out in force. Put the phone on silent and in the glovebox; texting multiplies crash risk 20 times. Hands free isn’t safe either. Loud music? Skip it. Pull over for calls or playlists. And hey, no road rage. Danfo cuts you off? Breathe and let it go. Aggressive moves cause pile ups.
Speed Kills. Obey Limits and Rest Up
Stick to 100km/h on highways, slower in rain or fog. Speed violations top FRSC crash causes every December. Tired? Stop every two hours or 200km for 15 minutes. Stretch, splash water. After four hours straight, mandatory 30 minute break. Share driving if you can. Overloading with yams and gifts strains brakes; balance the load and tie it down.
Buckle Up
Seatbelts for every passenger. Front and back. Kids in proper seats, no laps. Watch for pedestrians dashing across, especially drunk revelers at night. Defensive driving: assume that trailer will swerve, that okada will ignore red lights. Keep extra space in traffic jams. Headlights on low beam in harmattan dust.
Don’t Panic in Emergencies
See smoke or hear bangs? Pull far left, hazards on, triangle 50m back. Call FRSC 122 toll free. They’re 24/7 this season. Carry water, snacks, first aid kit, and torch. If stuck, stay in the car with doors locked.