FRSC: Safe, gridlock-free motoring everybody’s responsibility

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says achieving a safe and gridlock-free motoring society is the responsibility of every road user and not that of the law enforcement agents alone.
FRSC’s Public Education Officer, Mr Bisi Kazeem, said this in Abuja on Friday.
Kazeem said that all hands should be on deck to reduce accidents and fatalities on the roads.
While acknowledging the perennial gridlock at the Apapa Port in Lagos, Kazeem said the corps had established a command at the port with a view to tackling the gridlock in the area.
“One must bring to mind that in as much as operatives have been deployed to regulate excesses and ensure orderliness, drivers must also learn to be disciplined and patient.
“Drivers must also be tolerant without which every other efforts will end in futility,” he said.
Kazeem said the Corps Marshal, Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, was engaging stakeholders with a view to reducing economic loss as a result of crashes.
“We are strategising with the key parties like NUPENG PTD, NARTO, NURTW, and RTEAN to organise trainings and also read out riot act to drivers and enforce stiffer sanctions and punishment against defaulters.
“I know the Corps Marshal is committed to turning the table around in no distant time, which is why he has given directives to all commanding officers to ensure strict compliance.
“We have also intensified public education and enlightenment campaigns by utilising all available platforms and even more.
“For instance, the corps is presently holding its 11th edition of the “Don’t Drink and Drive Campaign’’ across four major parks in four major locations in the country.
“The campaign will see over 4000 drivers enlightened on the dangers of drink-driving and other safety issues.”
He also noted that the FRSC had extended the “Don’t Drink and Drive” enlightenment campaign to the NYSC orientation camps across the country.
“We have as a matter of urgency kicked off the campaign in the NYSC Orientation camp in Abia orientation so as to ensure that we achieve an all-inclusive awareness, especially among the youth,” the spokesman said.
On the use of mobile phones while driving, the public education officer described the trend as a serious offence in driving which the FRSC always frowned at.
“This bad driving behaviour has over the years led to several crashes that have resulted in wanton loss of lives and even permanent disabilities in some instances.
“Due to this, it has been categorised among the most critical offences the corps is presently waging war against.
“This brings about the creation of the COBRA Special Unit by the corps marshal and the introduction of the Emotional Stability Test for drivers arrested using their phones while driving.
“The enforcement policy is systematically fashioned to put an end to the killer-driving behaviour,” Kazeem said.