This Valentine’s Day season, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) is stepping up its efforts to catch intoxicated drivers and speeders on Nigeria’s roadways.
Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed said on Friday that all operational and educational assets would be deployed across the country. He also said that the Corps will not tolerate any reckless driving during the celebration.
The FRSC headquarters in Abuja sent out the order, which tells commanding officers across the country to make patrols more visible, make traffic control stricter, and enforce road safety rules without fail.
Officials call it a “proactive deterrence strategy” to give field operators breathalyzers and radar weapons to find drunk drivers and people who speed all the time.
Mohammed told officers to test suspected drunk drivers right away and stop any impaired driver from continuing their trip. This was done to cut down on deaths and damage to property that may have been avoided.
The message is clear: celebration should not lead to death and destruction.
The Corps Marshal said that Valentine’s Day is a global festival of love based on the life of Saint Valentine, but that the celebrations must be responsible.
He warned, “Drivers who want to celebrate must be good by following all traffic laws.” He also said that anybody who break the law would face harsh punishments under current traffic laws.
In the past, there have been more road accidents in Nigeria during holidays because people drive too fast, drink too much, and travel late at night.
The FRSC’s early mobilization shows that people are becoming more worried about how vulnerable young people are during the holidays.
The Corps is asking drivers to call its 122 toll-free emergency line to report incidents, roadblocks, or reckless driving so that they can be dealt with right away.
The Corps Marshal also asked parents and guardians to warn young drivers, saying that teens are still statistically more likely to be in a mishap when they are out celebrating.
Safety is a Shared Responsibility
FRSC officials said that the increased deployment is not meant to punish anyone, but rather to protect lives at a time when traffic is likely to increase substantially on metropolitan corridors and inter-state roads.
The agency believes that cooperation from drivers will decide whether Valentine’s Day ends in celebration or tragedy, with officers stationed all around the country to make things more visible.
The FRSC’s goal is clear: keep romance on the streets and keep Nigeria’s roadways free of heartbreak.
About the Author
