The Corps Marshall of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, has warned tanker drivers that any of their vehicles without a safety valve installed in it by September 1, would be grounded.
This is just as he said that the drivers of a total number of 414 trucks had been arrested between Monday, July 27 and Thursday, July 30, 2015, for various offences in an operation tagged “Operation Scorpion”.
TheCorps Marshall disclosed this on Thursday, during a visit to Oluyole Unitin Ibadan Oyo State, to assess the ongoing Operation Scorpion, being carried out by the FRSC
SEE: Graphic pictures from the fatal accident along Lagos-Ibadan expressway
Stating that the operation was a week-long one taking place at Oluyole, Ogere, Mowe and Ojota units in Oyo, Ogun and Lagos states along Ibadan-Lagos expressway.
Boboye disclosed that it was a pilot operation for the whole nation, with focus on trailers and trucks for full enforcement in compliance with the appropriate national road traffic regulations.
Maintaining that the enforcement was in regard to the conveyance of goods from one point to the other by the drivers, the Corps Marshall said that it also had to do with compliance with minimum safety standards.
He spoke on the need to ensure that the issue of tyres and headlamps of the trucks and trailers was addressed, as well as that of lane violation, adding that the essence was to use those arrested as deterrence so that others would comply with traffic rules and regulations.
READ: Expelled medical student kills self, one other in auto crash
Boboye promised that the exercise would be continuous, saying that his promise to Nigerians to relocate from Abuja to the Southern part of the nation to commence the enforcement was being fulfilled.
He stated further that the FRSC had reached out to the governors of Oyo, Ogun and Lagos States to solicit their support for the operation, just as he appreciated the Nigeria Police Force for giving a security backing to FRSC officials during the “Operation Scorpion”.
He noted that the drivers were complying with the prosecution and conviction because FRSC had discussed with their various unions such as NARTO, NUPENG, NURTW, AMATO, ALBON and RCN about six weeks before the commencement of the operation.
“We conducted mega rallies and consulted with the unions, after which they agreed with us to go ahead with the enforcement,” he said
READ: EFCC Arrests PDP Chairman In Enugu For Diverting Funds Meant Public Housing
The Corps Marshall de-emphasised the fine being paid by erring drivers after convictions by the mobile court, saying that the sole aim of the operation was correction.
He said that aside the fine imposed by court, the FRSC ensured that the drivers did the correct thing before being allowed to move from point of arrest.
In addition, Boboye said that the enforcement of the correct behavioural pattern as regards road traffic regulations would commence with tanker drivers on September 1, saying that they were supposed to install a safety valve in their vehicles.
He said that the safety valve is to protect products from spilling, in case of there is a crash or a tanker falls.
“The tanker drivers asked for an extension which we have granted. The drivers are beginning to realise the sanctity of lives and the need to respect other road users,” Boboye stated, saying that the issue of safety valve was not strange to major marketers but that people had been circumventing the minimum standards.
SEE Photos: Female suicide bomber apprehended after failed suicide attempt in Cameroon
“By September 1, I will ground any tanker that does not have the safety valve. We will also enforce the age limit of the trailer/truck/tanker drivers which is 26 years, according to traffic regulations. They must also have experience,” he further warned.
On speed limit device, Boboye said the FRSC would wait until September 1 when the FRSC would start enforcement, disclosing that 50.8 per cent of road traffic crashes were speed-related in 2014.
Saying that the issue of speed limiter was not new to Nigerian traffic laws, Boboye stated that the FRSC was not reinventing laws but only invoking existing laws to ensure that people’s lives are secured.
No comments:
Post a Comment
WE LOVE COMMENTS, POST A COMMENT