The Zonal Commanding Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps in charge of Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa States, Assistant Corps Marshal Kingsley Agomoh has reiterated the need for strict compliance with traffic rules and regulations among motorists and other categories of road users as part of measures to attain reduction in avoidable road crashes.
Addressing media correspondents in Port Harcourt during a formal unveil of this year’s Operation Zero, the Zonal Commanding Officer harped on the need for proper maintenance of vehicle and urged motorists to desist from road vices such as overloading, drunk driving, route violation and other infractions that can result to road crashes.
According to Agomoh, in fulfillment of its mandate as the nation’s lead agency on road safety management and traffic administration, the FRSC has put some measures in place during the Operation Zero nationwide patrol with the theme: “Road Safety is a State of Mind – Stay Alert” slated for 15th December 2019 to 19th January 2019.
Speaking further, Agomoh recalled that the end of every year is typically characterized by increase in traffic volume with cases of gridlocks, road traffic regulations infractions and occasioned crashes causing loss of human and material resources with dire consequences on the national economic development.
In alignment with the Corps’ efforts across the country to address this trend, he said “to this end, it is a national responsibility on us to manage traffic situation within Zone 6 comprising Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa States towards ensuring a festive season with minimal traffic infractions and its attendant losses within our jurisdiction which will indubitably engender a quality travel and celebrations”. He therefore solicited the collaboration of the motoring public to realize this goal saying “this is a collective responsibility however, with all road users through unalloyed cooperation”.
Furthermore, the Zonal Commanding Officer outlined the Corps’ objectives during the nationwide exercise which includes:
a. Free flow of traffic along major road corridors in Zone 6.
b. Reduction in Road Traffic Crashes
c. Prompt rescue and recovery
d. Rapid response to distress calls
e. Enforcement of Road Traffic laws and regulations
f. Mobile Courts deployment
g. Robust Public Enlightenment Campaigns
He added that the Corps’ focus on enforcement shall target but not limited to excessive Speeding, dangerous driving and overtaking, Tyre violation (Expired/Fake/sub-standard), lane indiscipline/route violation, Road obstructions, Use of Phone while driving, overloading violation, Seatbelt use violation, Child Safety, Passengers Manifest Violations, Mechanically Deficient vehicles, Unlatched container carrying vehicles. There will be no waiver for any traffic rule violation.
In the same vein, he added that massive deployment of about 1,388 Regular Marshals and 2,032 Special Marshals as well as Road Safety Club members has been undertaken along critical corridors with patrol vehicles, motor bikes, Ambulances and Tow Trucks for traffic control, routine patrols, prompt rescue services to ensure sanity and decorum on the highways.
Further to efforts towards safer roads during the exercise, the Zone has also established a Traffic Control Camp at Odukpani in Cross River and two (2) Help Areas located at Oyigbo and Choba in Rivers States respectively. These are to take care of traffic situations along the lonely part of the Odukpani road and prompt response to road traffic crashes and traffic management along the mentioned routes.
Similarly, the Zone has identified the Etche axis in Rivers State as alternative route for motorists going to Aba, Umuahia and Enugu to cushion the scourge of endless gridlock along Port Harcourt – Aba expressway.
Continuing he said, ‘road traffic crashes are avoidable and only compliance with best practices of road use will guaranty the safety of all road users’.
Against this backdrop, motorists are hereby warned to ensure strict compliance with all traffic rules and regulations and proper maintenance of vehicles which ply the highways as the Corps has established mobile courts at strategic routes of the highways cutting across Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa States to ensure prompt trial of traffic offenders.
In the same vein, commuters (passengers) are enjoined to monitor their drivers and to employ subtle approach to call them (drivers) to order in the face of any form of reckless driving as any form of complacency may result to grave consequences or call FRSC toll free line 122 or 070022553772 for prompt response to any traffic challenges.
