By Roland Ike
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ebonyi State has deployed not fewer than 620 personnel to ensure free vehicular movement during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration in the state.
The Sector Commander, Henry Igwe told our Correspondent in Abakaliki that the personnel comprise special and regular marshals who would be stationed at strategic locations across the state during the period.
“The exercise aims at checking road traffic crashes and ensuring prompt response to eventualities.
“We will mobilise 15 vehicles, one ambulance, tow-trucks with the active support of special marshals across the six units in the state.
“We will also pay special attention to Afikpo Local Government Area of the state where there is significant population of Muslim faithful.”
Igwe noted that the Command had introduced key safety initiatives to tackle the excesses of road users in ensuring a safe celebration.
“This excesses include the use of articulated vehicles to convey human beings, embarking on night journeys, driving when fatigued, speed violations and drunk-driving among others.
“We are collaborating with the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and state judiciary for timely prosecution of traffic offenders during the celebration and beyond.
“We have stepped-up measures to check driving under the influence of alcohol and other banned substances.
“The Command in collaboration with relevant stakeholders has deployed mechanisms at motor parks to check drivers who drive under alcohol influence.”
Igwe noted that the command in conjunction with relevant security agencies, have inaugurated an inter-agency, joint task force to check articulated vehicles conveying human beings alongside animals.
“The task force has successfully arrested 222 articulated vehicles conveying 3,169 passengers perched on top of goods and animals.
“This effort has greatly checked road crashes with attendant fatalities associated with the practice.
“We advise commuters to always report reckless drivers to the command and other security outposts on the highways”, he advised.
