YULTIDE: FRSC BEGINS CAMPAIGN TO REDUCE ROAD CRASH IN ENUGU STATE
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has advised vehicle owners to ensure that drivers they hire are qualified and in sound minds as this will ensure reduction in road crashes.
FRSC Corps Marshal, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, made this known in a message to the launch of the “2021 Operation Zero Tolerance and Show of Readiness and Rescue Simulation” with the aim of addressing traffic challenges and reducing road accidents during the Christmas and New Year period
The event, which was held at the Naira Triangle Emene axis of the Enugu-Abakaliki highway also had its theme “Maintain safe speed, avoid Night travels and Enjoy quality Road experience.”
The Corps Marshal was represented by the FRSC Zone 9 Commander, Enugu, Mr. Francis Udoma, in an event attended by heads of security agencies and relevant stakeholders in road and emergency management.
The Corps Marshall encouraged people who lacked confidence driving on the highway to engage qualified drivers this season.
Mr. Udoma advised drivers to ensure that their vehicles were in good condition before embarking on journeys to forestall breaking down on the road and other faults that might lead to accident.
“Our experience shows that when you don’t service the vehicle, the vehicle breaks down on the road, the bad boys will remove (steal) the tyres.
“And we have to advise all the drivers that this is the only period they are going to make money. When they drive to stay alive, they will always make money,” the Corps Marshal remarked.
Also, the sector Commander, FRSC in Enugu State, Mr. Joseph Udoabba, called for caution among motorists, noting that the command would continue with the Christmas patrol until the January 15, 2022.
“We have more men from our national headquartres, from other help areas to ensure that they are on the road throughout the day time.
“Also we keep a standby team for rescue purposes in the night and we have also sent surveillance team to check our men on the road to ensure that they are doing the right thing,” the Sector Commander stated.
Stakeholders in emergency management and heads of security agencies in Enugu State, including the Police, Army, Fire Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Correctional Center, National Emergency Management Agency, Ministries of Works and Health as well as NUPENG and the National Union of Road Transport Workers attended the event.
One of them, the Garrison Commander, 82 Division of the Nigeria Army, Enugu, Brigadier General Christopher Ataki, who represented the GOC of the Division, commended FRSC for the invitation and the enlightenment.
“Road accidents affect everybody and so it is a matter of concern for all of us.
“And I’m happy the FRSC has taken the initiative to educate us and I do believe that from what we have seen, we will have zero accident in December and in the months to come,” the army General said.
There were goodwill messages from other dignitaries that attended the programme, which featured simulation of rescue of accident victims using the cutter and expander extricating machines as well as the use of speed lasers to gauge speed of vehicles and breathalyzer to detect the amount of alcohol in a driver’s breath.