FRSC to go tough on speed-limit device violators in new year

The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, says motorists that fail to instal speed limiting device in their vehicles will not be spared in the new year.

According to the Corps Marshal, excessive speeding has continued to be a critical causative factor of fatal road crashes, stressing that enforcement of the speed limit would be total in 2022.

Already, Oyeyemi said all FRSC commanding officers had been directed to force down the rate of speed-induced crashes through aggressive enforcement of the laws on speed limiting devices.

This is contained in a new year message to Nigerians by the Corps Marshal of FRSC amidst fears of spread of COVID-19 and its new variant, omicron, posing health challenges to the nation’s public safety.

The Corps Marshal therefore urged members of the public to observe the traffic rules and regulations as well as the protocols on the dreaded disease put in place to safeguard them while driving to the new year.

A press release signed by the Corps Public Education Officer, Assistant Corps Marshal Bisi Kazeem and made available to the newsmen on Friday, quoted the Corps Marshal as saying, “The discovery that some Nigerians are still flouting the law on use of speed limiting devices in their vehicles resulting in the upsurge in speed-related crashes was unfortunate.

“But such flagrant disobedience to traffic safety rules would no longer be condoned in the new year as enforcement would be total and unwavering.”

Oyeyemi also urged Nigerians to improve on safe road use culture in view of of improved road rehabilitation and constructions going on across the country.

He expressed gratitude to God for the grace of protection and guidance given to the nation in the face of the various health, safety and security challenges experienced in the outgoing year.

He appealed for sustained consciousness by people to overcome the challenges in the new year.

The statement said even though the Corps Marshal was pleased with the conduct of most drivers during the recent Christmas celebration which made the rate and fatalities of road traffic crashes manageable, he cautioned that if such good habits were not sustained in the new year, there could be a resurgence of crash situation which could undermine the gains made from the special patrol.

“Every Nigerian must, therefore remain committed to tackling the challenges which road safety and COVID-19 pose to the nation’s health, safely, security and wellbeing by doing what is right at all times,” he stated.

He commended all the stakeholders that joined the road safety campaigns during the festive periods to make the roads safer, adding that road safety remains a shared responsibility which no single organisation can tackle all alone without support and collaboration of relevant stakeholders.

The Corps Marshal particularly expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for rendering all necessary moral and logistics support for the success of the campaigns in the outgoing year leading to the global recognition of Nigeria’s efforts in the campaign for safer road environment.

The FRSC Corps Marshal called on all Nigerians to embrace the ongoing safety campaigns to make it an all round success for quick socioeconomic development of the nation. He also reminded Nigerians that it’s only the living that can celebrate, stressing that speeding must be contained by all means, despite its thrilling effects.

While admonishing Nigerians on their personal responsibility to the campaigns to make the roads safer, Oyeyemi further urged the people to remain active by always observing the traffic rules and regulations and reporting road and other emergencies promptly to the FRSC toll free line: 122 or the studios of the National Traffic Radio-107.1fm through the telephone lines:08052998090 or 09067000015 for prompt response.

As the Corps Marshal wished all Nigerians safer and prosperous new year, he assured the nation that FRSC would continue to be vigilant in safeguarding the roads throughout the new year and beyond for safety and security of the people.