By OLALEKAN AYENI.... The Lagos and Ogun states Zonal Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Peter Kibo, has reinstated the Zone's readiness to deployed both personnel and machineries to all designated routes to ensure safety on the road across during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
He stated that the special patrol and operations on major highways would focus on prompt rescue/clearing of obstructions, recovery services, sister agencies collaboration, road safety observatory and uninterrupted motorised patrol.
ACM Kibo explained that FRSC personnel in collaboration with other sister agencies, 'LASTMA, VIO, Police' among others would also intensified much on enforcement of COVID-19 protocols in line with government directive that could curtail the spreading of the deadly disease.
According to the FRSC Chief, no driver would allow to carry passengers more than 50 per cent total capacity of his vehicles to leverage on social distance guidelines, which must be definitely maintained in accordance with government directive. This is not the time that drivers will filled up their vehicles with passengers in contrary to COVID-19 guidelines, he said.
He emphasised that FRSC in collaboration with other sister agencies would start inspection of COVID-19 protocols from the motor parks to ensure strict compliance of both drivers and passengers as FRSC campaign theme for this year implies "Drive Safe, Stay Safe". Drive Safe to remain safe and alive is expected to be a priority of all motorists during the festive period and beyond.
According to ACM Kibo, the special patrol would also focus on prompt response and removal of road obstructions should any break down of articulated vehicles on the road. It will also targeted on critical offences, which includes: speeding, dangerous driving, tyre violation, lane indiscipline, use of phone while driving, drunk driving overloading, seatbelt use violation, passengers manifest violation, mechanically deficient vehicles, and unlatched containerised vehicles.
"Yuletide rushings never cut off FRSC unaware. We always prepared for it as we know end of the year always characterised with lots of human activities, people make use of vehicles which definitely increase volume of vehicular movements right from the beginning of the 'ember months' till it graduated to December, known as the peak period of both Christmas and New Year celebrations.
"Many other activities are carried out within the festive period. We always expect lots and we always prepare for the challenges. We double our actions in everything we are doing especially uninterrupted patrols including the best use of vehicles at our disposal.
"Unfortunately, this year #EndSARS protests have affected us negatively. A lot of our patrol vehicles were burnt, which could have being a major problem but thank God, the Corps Marshal, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, about a week ago presented some vehicles including heavy duty tow truck to the Zone, having aware of the peculiarities nature of Lagos-Ibadan expressway that any little delay in removing obstruction along the corridor caused traffic congestion and gridlock because of high volume of traffic.
"With this intervention, the zone have braced up bounced back from the #EndSARS destructions on our vehicles. Our efforts of ensuring maximum safety of lives and properties during the festive period continue. With the deployment of that heavy duty tow truck, there would be prompt removal of all articulated vehicles should there break down of anyone on the road unlike the previous years that FRSC partnered with construction company before they could remove such obstructions to restore free flow of traffic. But this year, we had very workable heavy duty tow truck capable of towing articulated vehicles of any kind out of road should any break down. These are the intervention that we have prepared for in case of any eventuality during this festive period," ACM Kobo said.
He implored all road users especially the motorists to strictly adhere to both traffic rules and regulations that guaranteed safety of lives and properties on the road including COVID-19 guidelines, saying FRSC would intensifies much on enforcement and no offenders would escaped punishment in accordance with traffic law.
"FRSC will be very strict with people who failed to observe every safety protocols as expected of them while making use of the road. Our 'ember months' across Commands was to alert and remind road users about the dangers of disobedience to traffic rules and regulations.
He appealed to motorists to always have maximum patient while using the road, adding that majority of avoidable crashes and gridlocked in highways are caused by impatient. "Assuming there is breaking down of vehicle on the road and a particular lane affected or blocked, everybody would be rushing to go at same time which of course not possible, end result is crashes. But if there is maximum patient everybody will go freely and unhurt with just little time delay."
He continues his appealling to motorists to eschew drunk drive, driving under fatigue, noting that they are very dangerous for driving. Some minutes rest is only solutions. Alcoholiser would be part of machineries that are ready to deployed to ensure no drunk drivers allowed to drive on the road, he said.
ACM Kibo sought the cooperation of construction companies in ensuring free flow of traffic across the construction areas.
"We have gone round all the construction areas with the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola to beg the construction companies about the importance of maximising their accessibility so that the expected volume of traffic would be accommodated. FRSC targeting free flow with utmost safety of lives and properties on the highways during the festivities and beyond.
Both drivers and passengers as FRSC campaign theme for this year implies "Drive Safe, Stay Safe". Drive Safe to remain safe and alive is expected to be a priority of all motorists during the festive period and beyond, he added.
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