•Dr Priscilia Imade
The Ember Months are September, October, November and December and they bring increased travel, celebrations and movement across Nigeria. With more people on the roads and many long-distance journeys taking place, road safety should be everyone’s priority.
One important safety check we often forget is our eyesight. Kindly note the following:
A) Can You See the Road Clearly?
Driving requires good vision. You need to see:
* Road signs and traffic lights
* Vehicles and pedestrians
* Motorcycles and cyclists
* Potholes and road obstacles
* Road markings and turns
If you cannot see these clearly and early enough, driving becomes more dangerous.
B) Signs Your Vision May Be Affecting Your Driving
Pay attention if you:
* Struggle to read road signs from a distance.
* Squint frequently while driving.
* Have blurred distance vision.
* Find night driving difficult.
* Experience excessive glare from headlights.
* Have difficulty seeing pedestrians or motorcycles.
* Struggle to judge distances accurately.
Don’t just say, “I can manage.” Get your eyes checked.
C) Night Driving Needs Extra Care
Darkness, rain, dust, poor lighting and oncoming headlights can make driving more difficult.
If headlights regularly blind you or cause excessive glare, or you struggle to see the road at night, your eyes may need professional attention.
D) Nigerian Roads Need Good Eyes
From busy Lagos traffic to long-distance journeys on major highways, Nigerian drivers encounter:
Potholes • Poor lighting • Heavy traffic • Pedestrians • Motorcycles • Rain • Dust • Headlight glare
Good vision helps you identify these hazards early enough to respond safely.
E) Commercial Drivers: Your Eyes Carry Lives
If you drive a bus, taxi, truck or other commercial vehicle, your vision affects not only you but also your passengers and other road users.
Your vehicle carries people. Your eyes carry responsibility.
F) Before Your Ember Journey
Before you travel, do the following:
✔ Check your vehicle.
✔ Check your tyres and brakes.
✔ Check your eyes.
✔ Make sure your glasses prescription is appropriate.
✔ Avoid driving when tired or impaired.
✔ Don’t use your phone while driving.
✔ Take breaks during long journeys.
THE EMBER REMINDER
You checked your fuel.
You checked your tyres.
You checked your brakes.
DID YOU CHECK YOUR EYES?
Good eyesight cannot prevent every road accident, but driving with vision that is inadequate for the road can put you and others at unnecessary risk.
SEE WELL. DRIVE WELL. ARRIVE SAFELY.
*Dr Priscilia Imade is CEO, Modern Eye Clinic, Lagos. E-mail: moderneyecliniclagos@gmail.com
Another edition of the column returns on Monday in The Frontier.
