The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, has urged motorists to sustain peace and consider other road users during and Eater celebration.
In a message from the commission in Abuja on Sunday, he noted that Easter was one of critical periods when there was always increase in human and vehicular traffic that posed challenges to the FRSC.
Oyeyemi said in anticipation of increase in traffic, the commission had deployed adequate men and provided necessary logistics at strategic locations across the country to address safety challenges.
“We just concluded the presidential election duties and in continuation of our statutory responsibility of ensuring safer road, especially for the Easter, we have deployed officers and vehicles at identified spots nationwide.
“Let me also use this opportunity to congratulate Christians and assure all Nigerians that FRSC will continue to work hard to ensure that the road remain safer throughout the period and beyond.
“Our call centre remains open to receive distress calls for prompt mobilization of rescue operations while our road side clinics and zebra points nationwide have been put on alert,’’ he said.
Oyeyemi commended staff of the corps for their commitment during the presidential election as well as working with other security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He urged them to replicate the same performance during the forthcoming governorship elections.
Also, the FRSC has called on all motorists and other road users to be cautious on the roads as the rainy season has set in, urging them to ensure proper maintenance of their vehicles.
A statement by the Corps Public Education Officer, Imoh Etuk, said the FRSC had put in place strategic plans to ensure sanity on the highways during the season even as the Corps also harped on the need for strict compliance with traffic rules and regulations by road users.
He reminded drivers to fix their vehicle wiper blades, head and tail lights, brakes and avoid the use of worn-out tyres to enhance safety as they ply the roads when it is raining.
Etuk also expressed the Corps’ concern over the attitude of many drivers in the country on tyre care and maintenance, adding that most Nigerian drivers have poor maintenance culture.
He pointed out that drivers should have correct tyre pressures as recommended by vehicle/tyre manufacturers, advising them to avoid under or over inflation of tyres.
He explained that every tyre has a life span of four years, noting that the week and year of manufacture are always inscribed as codes.
He also advised motorists to ensure regular maintenance of their vehicles and desist from the use of worn-out tyres and tokunbo tyres, in view of inherent traffic hazards associated with them.
Etuk further stated that during the rainy season, the grip of worn-out tyres is often seriously affected, adding that there is danger of the car skidding and veering off the road or not coming to halt within the safe distance after application of brakes.
He counseled motorists to note that visibility might be affected when the rain is heavy, as a result, should reduce speed and stop when it is obviously unsafe to continue driving.
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