South East breaking News
The Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC), Abia Sector Command, said it has deployed 500 regular marshal and 300 special marshal across the state for a hitch-free Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
The Sector Commander, Mr Fredrick Ogidan, made this known during a press conference on Friday, in Umuahia.
Ogidan said:” Our patrol men are already on the road doing speed calming, cautioning drivers and ensuring that people drive safe to their destination.”
He said that the major preoccupation of the FRSC during this festive period would not be to arrest but to ensure that the road is free of any obstruction and gridlocks.
Ogidan said that dangerous driving and overtaking, lane indiscipline as well as excessive speeding often lead to road crashes and warned the motoring public against engaging in such acts.
He also said that these road traffic infractions were common on the highways and FRSC personnel were already on the roads to ensure the situation would be controlled.
Ogidan further said that the FRSC would deployed vehicles for effective patrol and tow trucks for prompt removal or clearance of obstructions along the highway.
He said that the FRSC had collaborated with Abia Emergency Medical Services, Fire Services and Homeland Security and other security agencies to ensure effective implementation of all directives for a safe Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
Ogidan said that the FRSC in Abia had set up a traffic control camp and rescue operation point, with a health section that offers first aid treatment to accident victims before they visit a hospital.
“Our ambulances would be visible our tow truck would positioned where they can be easily called upon, then our men will be on the road throughout the day.
“In the office, we have a 24 hours rescue team on ground and we can be contacted on our 122 line which is toll free,he said.
Ogidan said that the Corps had commenced effective enforcement of disallowing the use of trailers to convey passengers instead of goods in the state.
“We have visited the Lokpanta Cattle Market to further drive the message home and to ensure that trailer drivers conveying goods and passengers is stopped and penalised.
“The passengers on the trailer will be made to take appropriate alternative means of transport, while the trailer driver is penalised and made to pay fines,”he added
Ogidan said that the State Government had provided the FRSC with special courts to facilitate timely prosecution of traffic law offenders.
“Our special operation starts from today till the 21st, during the programme we will be doing a lot of arrest of traffic offenders and putting them before a magistrate, where they will be prosecuted
“There is another contribution that is going on under this arrangement is the prosecution of drivers of vehicles involved in crashes where somebody died in the crash.
“The driver will be prosecuted not just for minor traffic offence but for driving a vehicle in a manner that led to the loss of life and property.
“We would be organising minimum of two mobile courts , doing one on the 19th and another on the 20th,” he said.
Ogidan urged the citizens to abstain from causing road obstruction, use of phone while driving, and over loading vehicles.
He also urged motorists to use seat belts and child restraints because it had the ability to reduce the impact of any crash by minimum 50 per cent.
“All hands are on deck to ensure that the celebration period is hitch-free and accident-free,”Ogidan said.