Drivers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are allegedly reckless. But GRACE OBIKE reports that the establishment of mobile courts by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) to try traffic offenders will bring sanity on Abuja roads
Usually, when one goes to learn how to drive, one of the pieces of advice given to one is to consider other motorists as insane who are likely to make crazy moves while driving. This is because their careless manner of driving might endanger the lives of others.
It is not uncommon to notice that most people have always seen drivers in Abuja as carelessý and reckless. For years, people have complained of how people just hit the road with their new cars without ensuring that they are competent in terms of driving. When drivers in Abuja are not recklessly on speed, they are driving against traffic without caring.
Although private car owners are also culpable of reckless driving ý, it is equally common with painted and unpainted cab drivers. They have become so fond of breaking traffic rules. Their actions have caused a lot of road mishaps that claimed several lives.
Being away that most private motorists are careful to avoid their vehicles smashed, they drive recklessly and if they smash other people’s cars, they simply beg and are, most times, left to go free.
Unfortunately, the trend that is becoming common in Abuja with most drivers is over-loading. Most vehicles over-load their vehicles either with passengers or goods, most times both. When most of the recalcitrant drivers feel that they can get away with it, they carry so many passengers. Seats that should normally take three passengers are loaded with four or five. This engenders discomfort. In fact, some passengers have become so accustomed to this trend that they have resigned to fate. When the passengers complain about the discomfort they are experiencing, the driver will mildly ask them to manage.
Hopefully, the issue of over-loading and reckless driving will soon become a thing of the past, as the Federal Road Safety Commission is poised to enforce laws against these twin traffic offences in the nation’s capital.
Not only are the offending drivers arrested, their vehicles are impounded and the drivers dragged to a mobile court for prosecution.
Just last week, about 50 offenders were brought before the Magistrate’s Court of the mobile court. Some of them were warned; some asked to ensure that their vehicles were road worthy, while others were fined.
The Unit Commander, R87.15 Kubwa, Assistant Corps Commander Yusuf Abdullahi stated that they have been sensitising drivers on the dangers of over-loading. He warned drivers of the punishment that will be meted out to offenders by the Corps.
He said: “When we talk of over-loading, it has to do with both mankind and goods. It covers all categories of vehicles. There is a required load capacity for both human and goods and the moment it is violated, it becomes a problem.
“The Corps considered the trend and realised that it is becoming too rampant in the cityý. We decided to put in place some measures to control it. We embarked on public enlightenment campaigns at motor parks were we informed them of the dangers associated with the excessive loading of vehicles; we have, as well, tried to enlighten the public through the media.
“We have now initiated a mobile court. Whoever we apprehend, we hand him over to the mobile court where we have a Magistrate who presides over the issue.
“We have routine daily patrol and where we sense that it is becoming too rampant, we put up some measuresý. We are quite aware of all the unions and stakeholders in the areas. Where we notice that the offence is becoming rampant, we write to the organisations concerned. For instance, if we realise that school buses or staff buses or even company cars are involved in the issue of over-loading, we write to the organisation, informing them of the conducts of their drivers.
“To really get rid of the menace of over-loading, we adopted the “operation no recklessness in Abuja” which has been on since the last quarter of last year. We warn residents not to allow motorists to squeeze them into vehicles in the name of trying to make money from them. Every passenger has the right to protect his or her own life. Being in an over-loaded vehicle constitutes serious danger to the occupants of the vehicle and other road users. People should always be conscious of safety.
One of the drivers apprehended for flouting the law said: “Me I can’t take it anymore. I honestly do not know what is wrong with me. I don’t understand why I always find myself breaking their laws and been apprehended by them and the Nigeria police.
“The other day, I was arrested by the police in Kaduna for causing an accident that led to the death of someone. They arrested me, locked me up and when they got fed up of me, they released me and I promised to always be careful. Now, I have committed another offence. So, please I want them just to take the car and sell it because I’m tired of this business. I want them to sell the car and give me the money so that I will look for something else to do.”
