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Tag: Federal Road Safety Corps

  • ‘5.000 persons in custody over traffic violation’

    ‘5.000 persons in custody over traffic violation’

    The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has arrested 5,000 persons for violation of traffic rules while 2,000 others have been sent to government facilities for psychological evaluation since it began its Cobra Operations nationwide.

    The Corps Marshall, Boboye Oyeyemi, disclosed this on Monday while speaking with State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Oyeyemi said five key issues involved in the Cobra Operations were using phone while driving, jumping the traffic lights, route violation, overloading and over speeding.

    He said the major challenge the corps was facing at present was drivers of private vehicles who do not respect traffic rules.

    “You can see the problem that most of the people we are arresting on this violation and being sent to government facilities for psychological evaluation are more of private vehicle owners,” Oyeyemi said.

    He explained that there has been some gradual improvement in enforcement and compliance nationwide.

    According to him, there has been a decline in the number of road crashes involving commercial vehicles since the commencement of the use of speed-limiting device.

    He said: “If you observed of recent, the crashes involving trailers and tankers have dropped.  With that there is a decline in crashes involving commercial vehicles.”

    He said the FRSC has deployed a special squad of 10 bikes and five patrol vehicles to work round the clock in Abuja where violation of traffic rules is highest at present.

    Oyeyemi said the corps was ready for increased traffic during the celebrations of the Eid el Kabir festival coming up early next month and the ember months that precede Christmas and New Year.

    He said: “We are ready for the ember months; that is why had a strategy meeting last Monday to review our strategies and plan for ember months and once we plan for ember, Sallah is already a given.  We did well during the last Salah festival and I think in the next two weeks we are deploying more vehicles to remove broken down vehicles.”

    The corps marshal said though all roads are prone to accidents, there are some where accidents occur more frequently.

    He said: “All roads are prone to crashes but again you pick some like the areas where we are having problems.”

    Oyeyemi announced that Acting President Yemi Osinbajo would be the Special Guest of Honour of the FRSC’s Seventh International Annual Lecture Series.

    He said he was at the Presidential Villa to update the Presidency on the preparations for the lecture.

  • FRSC inaugurates 85 pupils into safety club

    FRSC inaugurates 85 pupils into safety club

    THE Ogun Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Clement Oladele, has inaugurated over 85 pupils from various schools into road safety club.

    The event with the theme: “My child, my tomorrow” was organised by Agbado/Ifo Unit Command of the Corps, held at Ebenezer Comprehensive High School, Agbado, a suburb of the state.

    He said it was high time teachers and parents engaged in proclaiming safety among the children at the tender age, saying it would not depart from them when they start driving on the road.

    Commander Oladele said road traffic breakers do not only cause problems for themselves but also to other road users. He noted that crashes, most especially involving children, would have reduced to the barest level, if drivers consider their safety in all aspects.

    He, however, implored children to join in proclaiming the road safety among their parents and correct them whenever they are going contrary to traffic rules and regulation.

    The sector commander said the road safety club would offer the children the opportunity to make better use of the highways in the future, saying “It is important we teach the children safety rules so that they would respect rules guarding the highways in the future. This could only guarantee the safety of live and property on the road.  Highways do respect anybody irrespective of status, it only respects the rules and regulation guided the using of it.”, he added.

    The Unit Commander, Asst. Corps Commander (ACC), Chinwendu Iwuoha, said the inauguration was organised to enable children fully involved in road safety activities, educate and teach them safety issues, for them to remain in it when they start driving on the highways.

    She said the initiative was part of the FRSC’s 2017 corporate strategic goals to catch the children young, to reduce road crashes.

    She said the Corps would continue to organise safety rallies for the children to inculcate safety tips into their heart, adding that it would enable them to become road safety ambassadors in the future.

    Commander Chinwendu said children would be able to tutor others on safety tips, as well as educate their parents on the use of highways.

  • Accidents: FRSC seeks improved partnership with police in Imo

    Accidents: FRSC seeks improved partnership with police in Imo

    Mr Joseph Aremu, The new Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps in Imo, has called for robust partnership and collaboration with the state Police Command to check road accidents.

    Aremu made the call on Thursday in Owerri when he visited the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Chris Ezike.

    He described police as a critical stakeholder in highway management.

    Aremu said that the visit was to seek improved collaboration with the police to effectively and efficiently coordinate activities on the highways.

    “FRSC is doing its best to reduce road crashes in the state. We are working tirelessly to ensure that road crashes are completely reduced.

    According to him, the FRSC operatives are sometimes disregarded due to the fact that they are don’t carry firearms.

    “We are often disregarded by road users because we are armless, but with the cooperation of the police, we can track down culprits,” he said.

    He said that FRSC had introduced the “Traffic Offenders Examination Speed limiting Device.”

    Aremu said that the police would play a greater role, especially by further investigating stolen vehicles impounded by FRSC and bringing the criminals to justice.

    Ezike pledged total partnership and support to FRSC.

    “We are ever ready to partner and support your command because your men are doing a great job by saving road users from untimely death,” he said.

    Ezike said police and FRSC had been partnering very well without any friction, adding that he would provide the leadership that would sustain the partnership.

    “FRSC is not known to me to be having any record of friction with the police and we will do everything possible to sustain it.

    According to him, most road users are usually drunk and careless while driving on the road.

    “It is unfortunate that innocent people still die in this nation out of carelessness of drivers, some of them are drunk others intentionally disobey traffic rules and we will fight this together.”

  • Number of motorists referred for psychological test rise — FRSC

    Number of motorists referred for psychological test rise — FRSC

    The number of arrested motorists referred by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for psychological evaluation under its Operation Cobra stood at 109 as at Monday.

    According to data released by the Corps Marshal, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, to newsmen in Abuja, a total of 585 drivers were arrested for 652 violations between July 1 and 10.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Operation Cobra is a nationwide special traffic law enforcement exercise launched by the FRSC on July 1.

    It targets five rampant life-threatening offences namely; use of cell phone while driving, route violation, traffic light violation, dangerous driving and overloading.

    A key component of the exercise is the referral of arrested violators to medical facilities for psychological evaluation, which Oyeyemi believes will help to check the trend.

    Declining a request for the number of referred offenders that failed the psychological test, the FRSC boss said some of them appreciated going through the process.

    “Many of them didn’t know they are hypertensive or that their sugar level is high.

    “Going through that process has shown them their state of health, and some really appreciated it,” he added.

    Oyeyemi further said Operation Cobra had started yielding the desired results of improvement in the behaviour of motorists.

    “Sanity is gradually returning to our roads, not only in Abuja but also in other parts of the country.

    “We have not been experiencing those fatal crashes again at critical junctions.

    “I promised Nigerians at the launch of the operation that it is going to be sustained, and we are getting positive results,” he said.

    While reiterating his appeal for the cooperation of Nigerians, the FRSC helmsman said the Corps would not entertain pleas on behalf of arrested offenders.

    “I want to appeal to people, they should not be calling to say, ‘my wife was arrested for using a phone while driving, please release her’.

    “I will not listen to such. If you don’t want to be prosecuted or referred to a facility, don’t use a phone while driving, don’t take one way, don’t violate the traffic lights.

    “We have a lot of responsibilities to sanitise the highways, and I can assure you again that FRSC is committed to fulfilling that mandate,” the corps marshal said.

  • NURTW wants FG to revive moribund tyre companies

    NURTW wants FG to revive moribund tyre companies

    Alhaji lssa Ore, the chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Kwara branch, on Monday appealed to the Federal Government to revive the moribund tyre manufacturing companies in the country.

    Ore told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin that this would curb the importers of tyres from importing fairly-used ones.

    He also said that it would reduce the rate of motor accidents on the country’s highways.

    The NURTW chairman urged the Federal Government to enter into negotiations with Dunlop, Michelin and other tyre manufactures with a view to returning to the country and resume productions.

    He condemned the imported tyres popularly called ‘tokunboh’ tyres now widely being used in the country by motorists.

    He described them as being substandard and not suitable for the nation’s weather conditions and roads.

    “The Federal Government must revive the moribund tyre manufacturing industries in the country to save the lives of Nigerians”, Ore said.

    The NURTW chairman also appealed to the Federal Government to assist the various indigenous tyre producers in the country financially.

    He said that would make them to be able to produce tyres that would be suitable for the nation’s road and reduce the rate of vehicular accidents usually recorded on annual basis.

    According to him, over 70 per cent of accidents involving vehicles that occurred in various parts of the country were attributed to tyre burst from speeding.

    The NURTW chairman advised motorists, especially, commercial vehicle operators to desist from using fairly- used tyres.

    He also advised them to always abide by traffic rules and regulations so as to reduce cases of road accidents in the country.

    NAN reports that the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, (FRSC), Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, at a wet- season mega rally held in llorin recently said that statistics showed that the country was recording 5,000 road accidents annually.

    He attributed the high rate to the use of substandard tyres, especially, by commercial vehicle operators.

  • FRSC cautions motorists on fake drivers’ license

    FRSC cautions motorists on fake drivers’ license

    Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Oyo state Command, on Tuesday, cautioned motorists on the use of fake drivers’ license.

    Mr Olusegun Akinyemi, Sector Head of Operation of FRSC in Ibadan, gave the warning at a rally organized by Oluyole Unit command to sensitize the public on dangers on the road.

    Akinyemi urged motorists to stop obtaining licenses from fraudulent individuals rather; they should patronize agencies saddled with such responsibilities.

    He said genuine drivers’ license could be obtained from the five units of the command in the state.

    Akinyemi said that it was an offence for motorists to drive without a license.

    Mrs Titilayo Olayiwola, the Commander, Oluyole Unit, urged motorists plying Lagos-Ibadan express way, to drive with care because of the on-going construction.

    Olayinwola said that accidents were on the increase on the road due to the carelessness and impatience on the part of motorists.

    “I want to appeal to all motorists to be patient anytime they are on the road and drive at a speed at which they can control the vehicle in case of any emergency situation,’’ she said.

    She said that accidents could be reduced through attitudinal change while driving.

    Mr Suleiman Adesina, Chairman National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Oluyole Unit, said the union would ensure that its members adhered strictly to the rules and regulations guiding the road.

    He commended the corps for sensitizing members of the union on road safety.

     

  • FRSC warns motorists against use of expired, substandard tyres

    FRSC warns motorists against use of expired, substandard tyres

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has warned motorists to desist from using expired and substandard tyres, to stem road crashes in the country.

    Mr. Moses Bature, Auchi Unit Commander of the corps made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Auchi on Thursday.

    Bature said the advice became imperative due to the rainy season, which may cause most of the roads to become slippery during the period.

    He said that officers of the command had been deployed on the roads to impound vehicles with expired and substandard tyres.

    “We are going into the rainy season and the roads may become slippery, exposing motorists that drive with worn-out tyres to constitute a danger to other road users.

    “During this rainy season, we advise motorists that they should only use the appropriate tyres for their vehicles, they should avoid buying expired and substandard tyres,’’ he said.

    Bature said that the use of expired tyres was a major factor responsible for road crashes and the loss of lives in the country today.

    He said this could be attributed to ignorance in the use and management of tyres by most drivers and motorists.

    “Motorists and commercial vehicle drivers should stop patronising sellers of ‘used tyres’.

    “I am advising motorists to ensure that they always checked the manufacturing and expiry dates of tyres before buying, so that they can be able to enjoy them for long,” he said.

    The FRSC official advised motorists to always use seat belts and ensure that their wipers are in order, before embarking on their journeys.

    “If your wipers are faulty, you have to put them in order before you now put your vehicle on the road.

    “Motorists should do this in order to save their lives and those of other road users on the highways,” he added.

     

  • FRSC takes road safety campaign to Churches in Jos

    FRSC takes road safety campaign to Churches in Jos

    The Plateau Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has taken its sensitisation of motorists on safety measures to Churches and other worship centres in the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the campaign kicked off on Sunday at the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), Gigiring, Jos, with the Sector Commander, Mrs. Pat Emeordi, declaring that the initiative was aimed at reducing road traffic crashes.

    “Our visit to this Church today (Sunday) is to commemorate the 4th UN Global Safety Week.

    “The theme for this year’s UN Safety Week is ‘Managing Speed’; we are focusing on that and want to urge all motorists to obey speed limits,” she said.

    She urged Christians to obey traffic rules just as they obey God’s tenets so as to rid Nigeria of crashes on its highways.

    “As Christians, we respect and obey God’s commandments; we should equally obey traffic rules and regulations.

    “God created roads for safety and not for us to die on them. He also created the traffic regulations so that we shall obey them toward safety. So, if we refuse to obey traffic regulations, we are disobeying God,” she said.

    Noting that road accidents do not recognise wealth or status, she challenged Nigerians to support the campaign by cautioning drivers against speeding “even if they are our parents”.

    She warned drivers against wrong overtaking, speeding, overloading and use of phones, saying that anyone caught would face the full wrath of the law.

     

  • FRSC counsel tipper owners, drivers on safety, Anambra

    The Federal Road Safety Corps in Anambra on Friday advised tippers owners in the state against putting too much financial burden on their drivers.

    Mr Sunday Ajayi, the FRSC Commander in Anambra, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Awka.

    He said that many erring commercial tipper drivers in the state had blamed truck owners for putting too much financial burden on them in terms of daily financial delivery.

    “Some of the erring tipper drivers, who overloaded their trucks, have always complained about the pressure to meet up their daily financial delivery to their bosses.

    “This, according to the drivers, forced them to overload their trucks, speed and disobey traffic rules.

    “With this situation, the drivers try to keep their jobs, forgetting the implication of involving in road crash.

    “So, FRSC is now begging the owners of tippers not to give hard financial conditions to their drivers as lives of other people on the road were valuable’’.

    Ajayi said tipper drivers had been specifically advised about the importance of obeying traffic rules, but this category of drivers were still dangerous on the road.

    According to him, many enlightenment campaigns were organised with emphasis on the need to avoid overloading and speeding.

    He said that the activities of tipper drivers called for urgent attention to stop them from turning roads to death traps.

    “We have carried out a lot of sensitisation to educate them against overloading, reckless driving and installation of the speed limiting device, among others, but all to no avail,” he said.

    Ajayi said that the command would continue to organise sensitisation programmes for motorists until sanity prevailed in the state.

    He advised motorists, particularly tipper drivers, to adhere to safety and traffic rules to ensure sanity and crash-free trips.

    Ajayi said that tipper drivers had become threats on roads in spite of series of sensitisation and awareness programmes on safe motoring.

    He said that the command would henceforth arrest erring tipper drivers as the command began to enforce sanity on roads to save lives

     

  • Easter: FRSC deploys 1,350 marshals, 14 ambulances in Kaduna

    The Kaduna Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said on Thursday it had deployed 1,350 marshals, 45 patrol vehicles and 14 ambulances to provide emergency services throughout the Easter celebration.

    The Sector Commander, Mr Francis Udoma who stated this in a interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna, added that four towing trucks and 12 motor bikes were also deployed.

    Udoma also said that mobile courts would equally be set up at strategic locations to try traffic offenders.

    He said that the command has been reaching out to all relevant stakeholders as part of effort to ensure accident-free Easter.

    “Even the State Government is not left out in the campaign to curb avoidable accidents during the festive season.

    “We just had a meeting with the state government officials and transport union leaders from National Union of Road Transport Workers and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria among others on ways to ensure safety on our roads.

    “We discussed with them, and they would equally talk to the drivers in their various unions to behave while on the wheel”, he said.

    The sector commander emphasized the need to install speed limit device in all commercial vehicles to curb speed related accidents.

    “We have been carrying out series of enlightenment campaigns against reckless driving, over speeding, overloading and other excesses of drivers while on the road.

    “We will continue to do so until sanity is restored on our roads”, he said.