Pursuant to its 2016 strategic goals towards improving road safety, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has deployed 500 patrol vehicles, 50 ambulances, 85 motor bikes, 15 tow trucks and over 20,000 personnel including special marshals, along designated routes as part of measures to ensure sanity on the nation’s highways, during this year’s Eid-el-Fitri Sallah celebration from July 3 - 10, 2016.

This year’s nationwide exercise which is a partial fulfilment of the Corps’ 2016 strategic goals of reducing road crashes by 15 per cent and fatality by 25 per cent, has become necessary to ensure safer road use during the festive period, usually associated with high volume of vehicular traffic.

The special duty also entails intensive patrols, prompt rescue services, strict enforcement of traffic rules and robust public enlightenment campaigns across the nation. In addition, the FRSC operatives will be deployed along designated Eid praying grounds as part of measures to ensure free flow of traffic.

Part of this nationwide engagement plans, according to the FRSC Head, Media Relations and Strategy, Corps Commander Bisi Kazeem, is massive deployment of personnel and logistics along 23 designated critical corridors and black spots such as Lokoja-Benin-Auchi, Abaji-Lokoja, Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-HawanKibo-Jos,Minna-Birnin-Kebbi-Sokoto-Gusau-Funtua-Zaria, Potiskum-Damaturu, Kabba highways and 65 routes, identified for this exercise.

Similarly, the Corps’ 24 emergency ambulance response centres located at designated routes across the country in the FCT, Kaduna, Gombe, Jigawa, Taraba, Niger, Kogi, Ondo, Edo, Osun, Nasarawa, Plateau and Kwara states, will be operational throughout the period. The FRSC will be complemented by relevant stakeholders such as the Police, Army, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, National Emergency Management Agency and others.

Furthermore, the Corps Marshal has directed the removal of obstructions from the highways while efforts should be geared towards improved traffic control/decongestion and public enlightenment campaigns through the distribution of safety handbills. Infractions such as use of cell phone while driving, worn-out/expired tyres, number and drivers’ license violation, speed limit violation, dangerous driving/overtaking, overloading/wrongful over taking and lane violations will attract severe sanctions from the Corps.

The FRSC warns motorists to ensure strict compliance with all traffic rules and regulations and proper maintenance of their vehicles. Passengers are equally enjoined to monitor their drivers against reckless driving, driving under the influence of alcohol and other road vices.

It also appealed to the motoring public to report any road crash or traffic-related emergencies by calling the toll free telephone lines 122 and 070022553772 for prompt response.

Update news