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People drive without seat belts in Lagos– Abuja FRSC
boss
By 0zBy TESSY OKOYE
Wednesday,
August 16, 2006
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Boboye
Photo: SunNews Publishing |
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Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) recently concluded
a five-day special patrol operations tagged: Operation Linestorm,
to raise the level of safety consciousness among road users,
and to improve on the level of patrol operations in Lagos.
During the tour, the Assistant Head of Operations FRSC Abuja,
Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, who represented the Corps Marshal and Chief
Executive of FRSC, Major Gen.
Halidu Anthony Hananiya, spoke with Daily Sun about the operation,
the commission’s prospects, and the need for road users
to imbibe safety consciousness. He also spoke on the commissions
readiness to ensure an accident-free Yuletide.
About ‘Operation Linestorm’
It’s been a five-day patrol operation in Lagos and it
was sustained on a 12-hour basis. The operation covered Epe,
Ojota, Apapa, Oshodi, Badagry and Lagos-Sagamu-Ogere axis.
The operation was targeted at removal of obstructions on highways,
enforcement of lane discipline and passengers manifest, use
of seat belt and speed limit for different categories of vehicles.
Arrest of under-aged and drunk drivers, removal of extra headlights,
GSM usage, over loading and impounding of vehicles with right-hand
steering.
Commuters were also educated on the need for safe motoring.
During the operation, 660 road traffic offenders were arrested
for 1,059 offences.Three hundred and fifty-four vehicles were
impounded. There were about five road accidents, where five
losses of lives were recorded. Three vehicles were impounded
within Ikeja and Surulere axis for having right hand steering.
Rescue teams were also on grounds to attend to any form of
emergency or distress calls.
Level of traffic within Lagos metropolis
Lagos accounts for 35 percent of vehicular density in Nigeria.
Traffic is really heavy, especially on inter-state roads.
FRSC has the responsibility to consistently monitor the roads
and enforce lane discipline. People have imbibed the habit
of driving and over taking on the fast lane. This is very
dangerous because the idea is for road users to over take
from the left and return to the right lane. This is what the
national road traffic regulation and the high way code stipulate.
Since it is one of the fundamentals of driving, we want to
enforce and educate people on that.
Road accident statistics for the year
In the last three years, accident rate has been relatively
stable. The statistics has not been alarming, but more fatal
cases have been recorded. Major causes of road accidents are
lack of public awareness and enlightenment. This has been
neglected for a while and we want to re-address the situation.
Yuletide
We all know that the ember months begin from September to
December. Normally we do what we call the ember months flag
off at this period of the year. We have already given directive
to all the state commands and command formations, to set up
committees with all relevant stakeholders. They are also expected
to work effectively to make sure that all the logistics within
their jurisdiction are fully mobilized and utilized. We also
want to ensure that all the highways have access to adequate
rescue and emergency services under the national network on
emergency road services.
Second, during this Yuletide season, all patrol vehicles would
be deployed to all the highways, especially the interstate
roads, to ensure and sustain smooth flow of traffic. All broken
down vehicles would also be removed from the highways, to
reduce the risk of accident. We are working to ensure that
there is increased and better performance this year.
Indiscriminate parking of trucks on the highway
Right now, there is no place to relocate most of the trailers
and tankers parked on Lagos-Shagamu express way. Since there
is no alternative arrangement, asking those truck drivers
to vacate might lead to breakdown of law and order. And miscreants
might capitalize on the confusion to wreak havoc. I believe
the local governments can, on their part, liaise with the
Federal Ministry of Works to build garages for the trucks.
We try within our means to ward them off the highway.
Abuse of siren and convoy
There has been some level of compliance among people driving
in convoy, even though some still drive at high speed. But
FRSC can only appeal to the individuals, even though it has
the power to regulate them. We are also working in conjunction
with other agencies in that respect. But the most important
thing is to enlighten all road users on the need to be careful
when they see convoys, so as to avoid multiple accident.
The idea of blaring siren when there is no traffic congestion
is senseless, because siren is meant to pave way during traffic
jam. Apart from that, siren is a sound pollutant and degrades
the environment. The use of siren has been seriously abused.
And it is high time those not authorized to use siren desisted
from such act, before they are embarrassed. The Inspector
General of Police, Sunday Ehindero, has also listed those
authorized to use the siren in FCT Abuja. The directive is
clear and it is strictly enforced.
Level of Nigerians’ compliance to road rules
At inception, FRSC had what was called the four-point approach.
Namely, education, persuasion, subtle force and enforcement,
which has always been applied. For two decades now, we have
been involved in public education and enlightenment. But with
time, we observed that Nigerians understand only the use of
force. And since that is the language they understand, we
have to apply it.
When we started ‘Operation Linestorm’, we had
to go on full enforcement. Although FRSC still operates with
civility and human face, we still feel that full enforcement
is the solution to highway problems. We need to do more within
our confine, and we must do it with the fear of God.
Enforcement without arms
FRSC has been patrolling on Nigerian highways and inter-state
roads for over eighteen years without arms. Despite this,
we have been arresting traffic offenders. It is the approach
that matters not how heavily armed a marshal is. What if arms
are carried and they are not properly handled, it can pose
a bigger problem and risk. We have had tremendous results
by arresting offenders without brandishing arms.
Re-occurring road offences in Nigeria
With 36 states including the FCT in Nigeria, road offences
vary from region to region and area to area. In Lagos axis,
for instance, people usually drive without seat belts. They
make use of mobile phones while driving, violate lanes, use
extra headlights, and drive without plate numbers. What we
do is to localize enforcement to particular problem in each
command. That is why the command and officers evolve their
strategy to solving the problems, within their jurisdiction.
Chasing traffic offenders
The issue of running after traffic offender is very wrong.
Federal Road Safety Commission kicks seriously against it.
It can endanger the lives of other road users and pedestrians.
What we advocate is that the plate number of an offender should
be written down. The offender can be apprehended later through
the union for commercial operators and licensing office, in
the case of private vehicle. I am appealing to all road users,
to obey road marshals, because they are there to ensure safety
on the road.
Advice
Road users should be safety conscious and comply with all
road regulations. There is need to ensure that all vehicles
are in good condition before hitting the road. Night travel
is very dangerous and should be discouraged. Although the
rate of road accidents at night has reduced, the fatality
of those that occur is very high and frightening. People should
bear in mind that it is only the living that celebrates.
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