The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has warned motorists against excessive speeding, before, during and after Yuletide to avoid road traffic crashes.
Mr Emmanuel Fadero, the Assistant Corps Commander, FRSC, Ile-Ife Unit Command, gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Thursday, in Ile-Ife.
According to him, the end of the year usually witnessed an increase in traffic, adding that motorists commit various road traffic infractions that often lead to fatal road traffic crashes.
Fadero noted that the 2021 Special Patrol Operations, tagged “Operation Zero Tolerance to Road Traffic Crashes” was aimed at minimising crashes and reducing traffic gridlocks to create an easy movement for the motoring public.
The unit commander said that the duty of the corps was to ensure that travellers get to their destinations safely and on time.
He said that the focus for this year’s enforcement operation was also meant to reduce excessive speeding, dangerous driving and overtaking, enforcement of tyre violation, lane indiscipline/route violation and use of phone while driving.
Fadero said that personnel of the corps would monitor overloading violation, passenger manifest violation, mechanically deficient vehicles and vehicles conveying unlatched containers among others.
The Ife Unit Command, the Assistant Corps Commander said, would increase the number of personnel on traffic control, adding that there would be intensified advocacy and enlightenment programme at the motor parks in Ile-Ife.
He added that the unit had started continuous public enlightenment on three different radio stations, O’odua FM, Crown FM and Orisun FM, to sensitise motorists on the need to drive safely.
Fadero said that the Special Marshals of the command had also been mobilized to embark on palliative repairs of some roads within the metropolis.
He said that some crash-prone sites in the area had been identified and red flags had been placed in such spots to warn motorists of danger.
“No matter how they rush, it may be practically impossible to make up all the trips and money they have missed since January till date just in few remaining days of the year,’’ the unit commander said.
Fadero urged commercial drivers to cooperate with the officers and men of FRSC while on the road to make their work easy and for the drivers and other road users to arrive safely at their destinations.
He said, “only the living celebrate.’