COMMERCIAL VEHICLE OPERATORS IN IMO STATE CALL FOR EXTENSION OF ENFORCEMENT OF SPEED LIMIT DEVICE IN VEHICLES.
Following the January 31st deadline for the installation of speed limit device on commercial, company and government vehicles, the Federal Road Safety Corps, Imo State Command has commenced enforcement of the policy.
Defaulters are expected to pay a fine of three thousand, or two years imprisonment or both.
Radio Nigeria correspondent who monitored compliance on the first day in Owerri observed that some drivers plying within the state who are yet to install the device have parked their vehicles for fear of being impounded by the FRSC officials.
In an interview, the Sector Commander FRSC, Imo State, Mr. Ibrahim Abubakar said the corps had taken measures to sensitize motorists on the need to comply with the policy.
Mr. Abubakar noted impressive compliance among fleet operators but stated that it was too early to determine that of intra state operators.
“We have done quite enough in publicizing the matter. We are starting full enforcement and by the end of the day we shall be able to say whether people have listened to us but the fleet operators, we can say that there is eighty percent compliance so far”
A representative of a popular transport company, Mr. Anthony Okeke pleaded for more time to enable them to install the device in all their vehicles.
“We are on it, we can’t finish it at the same time but we are doing it gradually, so before the end of this month we finish it. Let them give at least one month so that we finish them”.
The story is however different among some bus drivers who operate within Imo state as they claimed ignorant of the directive.
“Not that we are not going to do what they told us to do, but things are very very hard this time around so let them have patience with us, so that we can arrange our self many of our men have parked their vehicles because of the speed limiting device”, “we are ready to obey them but they have not educated us well”, “Am going back to Mbaise now am fearing”, “we don’t know where to go to, they never lecture us, now they just come out to harass motor drivers, it’s not fair, this park get chairman let them talk to the chairman to gather all drivers, direct us where to go and mount that speed limit device”.
They appealed to the FRSC to extend the deadline to enable them to install the speed limit device.
BY CHINAZO ILECHUKWU