The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says it secured convictions against 43 drivers for violation of road traffic regulations during its special Zero Accident Patrol on the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway.
The FRSC Legal Officer, Kaduna Sector Command, Mr Ibrahim Tanko, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday that the offenders were convicted by mobile courts after their arrest.
The official said that 10 of the offenders were convicted for driving without valid drivers’ licence, 20 for seat belt and five others for number plate violation.
Three others, he said, were convicted for infractions bordering on overloading and five for driving with worn-out and expired tyres.
NAN reports that FRSC had on June 24 commenced a four-day special patrol along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway to ensure zero accident.
The Assistant Corps Marshal in charge of Federal Operations, FRSC Headquarters, Mrs Mary Wakawa, told NAN that the patrol was a success.
Wakawa added that the operation would be sustained to the end of the year and beyond.
She said that there was the need for greater collaboration between the media and the corps in ensuring safety on the nation’s roads.
“So far, the operation was a success and we want to sustain it, but the media must support us in this campaign so that road users will see reason to behave themselves while on the wheel,’’ she said.
The state Sector Commander, Mr Francis Udoma, told NAN that the corps instituted the mobile court to enforce traffic rules and ensure zero road crash, injury and death on the nation’s roads.
“Intensive special patrol and the mobile court are aimed at addressing the spate of avoidable road crashes which are usually high on the major highways.
“The goal is to reduce unexpected deaths of road users due to drivers’ carelessness.
“We will continue to arrest drivers who overload their vehicles; drivers with no licence and drivers who speed as well as drivers with worn-out tyres,’’ Udoma said.
In a related development, the FRSC Zone 1 Zonal Commander, Mr Bulus Darwang, solicited media support in its sensitisation to curb the level of accidents along major highways.
Darwang told NAN that so far, accidents on Nigerian roads had been reduced by five per cent and fatality by seven per cent.
He, however, noted that the target was to reduce accidents by 25 per cent and fatality by 15 per cent by the end of 2016 and expressed optimism that it was an achievable target.
“If we are to achieve this target, we have to step up our enforcement alongside public enlightenment.
“But we cannot carry out public enlightenment without the collaboration and cooperation of the media.
“That is why I am soliciting for your collaboration to enlighten the public on the need to obey traffic rules, avoid dangerous driving and comply with speed limit laws, particularly on the highways,’’ he said. (NAN)
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