The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has sought the collaboration of
the media in checking overloading of vehicles by drivers, especially the
commercial ones.
Boboye Oyeyemi, Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the corps, made
the appeal on Monday in Abakaliki, during a familiarisation tour of the
Ebonyi Sector Command.
According to him, the stakeholders in the road safety project,
especially the mass media have a great role to play in checking the
trend which contributes greatly to carnages recorded on the nation’s
roads.
``When the media sees any car that is overloaded, take a photograph
of the vehicle with its particulars such as the number plate and report
immediately to our office.
``We will respond immediately because the corps is determined to
check overloading which has been persistent in spite of our numerous
enlightenment campaigns for drivers to desist from the act.
``This campaign will be sustained strongly in these Ember months
which normally records increased volume of vehicular movements, as
drivers excessively load their vehicles to make gains,” he said.
The corps marshal explained that the corps would soon start checking rickety or ill-maintained vehicles
which ply various roads in the country.
``We are enlightening motorists to ensure they remove all rickety
vehicles from the road to check incessant obstruction which cause
accidents,” he said.
Oyeyemi announced that the corps had entered into agreement with
various transportation organisations to enforce the installation of
speed limit devices by June.1, 2015.
``This will help in checking the carnages on the roads caused by
over speeding, as the unions have cooperated with us in checking
excessive speeding by drivers.
``The accepted maximum speed limit is 100, as this device will
ensure that no matter the level of acceleration by drivers, the speed
limit can still be checked.
``It will also ensure that even in cases of loss of vehicle control,
dangerous overtaking, among others; the driver can still control the
vehicle to safety,” he said.
During a courtesy call on Gov. Martin Elechi, Oyeyemi noted that the
corps would always ensure that Ebonyi’s quota on recruitment and other
privileges would be protected.
``We are encouraged with the level of synergy between the corps and
the state government, and we are determined to ensure that roads in
Ebonyi and those of other states, are free from crashes,'' he said..
Responding, Elechi commended the corps marshal for the enthusiasm he
has displayed in discharging his functions and noted that the state
would always support the corps to achieve its aims.
``We are concerned about the rate of road dilapidation across the
country as I call for enhanced synergy between the corps and the state
ministry of works and transport to check this trend,” he said.
Contributing, Anna Abhiele, Ebonyi Sector Commander of the corps,
commended the corps marshal for his effective leadership and assured
that the Ebonyi sector command would always strive towards excellence.
