Ikeja – Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State on Tuesday said it would be in the interest of public order and road safety if motorists in the state could drive without the use of honks.

Fashola made the statement in Ikeja at the grand finale of the 2014 “Be Road Friendly Competition,” an initiative of the state government to promote road safety awareness in school children.

The governor noted that though the idea of driving without honks might seem impossible, it was achievable if road users resolved to obey the rules and imbibe the right road safety culture.

He said his travels to some developed countries with high levels of compliance to traffic rules, had opened his eyes to the possibility of driving for hours without honks.

“Can anybody imagine that one can drive in Lagos without the use of honks? It might seem impossible but the fact is that it is very much possible.

“When you leave this country for Europe or America, sometimes you can drive for ten days or more and you will not hear the sound of honks.

“If we all decide to disconnect all the honks in our vehicles; will it stop us from getting to where we want to get to? Certainly not.

“Therefore, it is possible to drive without honks. If we do the right thing and obey traffic rules, this is sure a possibility.

“May be we can all decide and start with ‘A Honk free day’ in Lagos and then move to ‘A Honk free week’ and thereafter ‘A Honk free month’ and hopefully we can have a ‘A Honk free state.’ he said.

Fashola noted that poor road safety attitudes such as non-use of seat belts and pedestrian bridges, over-speeding and drunk driving, among others, were responsible for most road tragedies in the state.

He implored residents to assist the government in reducing road accidents in the state by driving safely and imbibing road safety attitudes.

The governor said the state was committed to reducing road accidents through advocacy and erection of road signs and traffic lights, among other steps.

Earlier, Mr Kayode Opeifa, the Commissioner for Transportation, said the “Be Road Friendly Competition,” was aimed at inculcating the right road safety attitudes in school children, with a view to using them to influence others.

He said the purpose for which the programme was initiated five years ago had been achieved as past winners had helped to influence positive behaviours on road safety.

He commended the participating students for responding to the ideas and ideals of the programme, saying that it would assist the government in its efforts to reduce carnage on the roads.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no fewer than 15,000 students from different public and private schools participated in the competition.

Eighteen students were selected for the grand finale.

– NAN