ABUJA – The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), has deployed 18,000 personnel and 918 vehicles across the country for special patrol tagged “Operation Ed-el-Kabir between Sept. 30 and Oct. 12.
The Corps Marshal, Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, made the announcement in a statement issued by Mrs Stella Uchegebu FRSC Public Education Officer.
The statement was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.
Oyeyemi said the exercise was in line with the goal of the FRSC to reduce road traffic crashes by 15 per cent and fatalities by 25 per cent in 2014.
He said: “the special patrol is aimed at addressing the spate of avoidable road crashes usually associated with the festive season.
“The nationwide exercise forms part of the Corps’ sustained efforts to build on its ember months campaigns which will be sustained throughout the end of the year.
“FRSC has a consistent tradition of enforcing traffic rules and regulations throughout the year to avoid a one-off approach to road safety management in Nigeria.
“It is an all-inclusive exercise which will witness intensive patrols, prompt rescue services, strict enforcement of traffic rules and robust public enlightenment campaigns across the country.’’ [eap_ad_1] Oyeyemi said that 18, 000 personnel, including regular and special marshals, 800 patrol vehicles, 60 motor bikes, 52 ambulances and six heavy duty tow trucks would be deployed for the exercise.
He also cautioned motorists not to violate speed limit.
“Our findings indicate that speed limit violation remains a prevalent factor on road traffic crashes in the country.
“It accounted for 39 per cent of road crashes recorded nationwide between January to August 2014.
“Out of all causative factors, speed violation, dangerous driving and loss of control which are speed-related, contribute to most crashes on our roads,” the statement quoted Oyeyemi as saying.
He said that infractions such as use of cell phones while driving, overloading, wrongful overtaking, lane violations, dangerous driving, drink driving, and other road vices would form part of thrust of the special patrol.
The FRSC boss said that his officials would also check speed limit violation through the use of radar guns.
Apart from the deployment of personnel and logistics on designated corridors and black spots, the statement said the FRSC would pay special attention to nine accident prone highways across the country.
He listed the highways to include Hawa-Kibo- Akwanga, Gwagwalada-Lokoja, Ore-Egbeda, Mowe- Ogere and Kakau highways.
He said that mobile courts would be established at specific locations across the country for quick dispensation of traffic offences. (NAN)
[eap_ad_4]
