The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, has tasked Commanding Officers to begin immediate deployment of personnel for aggressive sensitisation of the motoring public on the need to observe maximum safety precautionary measures in the face of the recent threat of the second wave of COVID-19 in Nigeria.
According to Bisi Kazeem, the Corps Public Education Officer, FRSC, in a press release, Oyeyemi further directed that safety managers domiciled with fleet operators must endeavour to ensure strict compliance to all standing directives given by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.
That, he said, included provision of running water and hand washing equipments and making available, hand sanitisers both in parks/terminals and in vehicles.
Oyeyemi stated that as the Corps commenced this year’s end of year special patrol towards successful Christmas and new year celebrations, the Corps would not relent in its commitment to safer motoring environment as Commanding Officers had been directed to heighten advocacy and sensitisation campaigns in motor parks to bring the message of the rising cases of COVID-19 pandemic to the consciousness of road travelers.
He said that was because creating understanding and enforcing compliance with the rules was strategic to achieving the required success.
Oyeyemi further ordered that drivers of vehicles must be made to comply with every directive on physical distancing by carrying only one person at the front and not more than three at the rear seat of the vehicles.
He said motorcycle riders should carry only one person at a time so that occupants would be able to guard themselves and watch out for symptoms as they commuted to their destinations.
Kazeem equally stated that the Corps Marshal advised travellers to stay away from overloaded vehicles at all times no matter the urgency of their trip.
He warned all vehicle occupants to always wear their seatbelts, put on their facemasks and ensure that they fill the passenger manifest before the trip commences.
According to him, at that point, it was better to be late on one’s trip than to indulge in unhealthy acts that would lead to contracting or spreading the virus as the world had already had enough of the epidemic.
Oyeyemi further cautioned motorists who might notice any strange type of flu to consider the welfare of others and stay back, notify the family and loved ones of the development, and report him or herself for medical examination.
While he gave the advice and warned against indiscriminate overloading of vehicles, the Corps Marshal enjoined all motorists and road users to drive to stay alive as they continually observed all traffic rules and regulations.
He cautioned FRSC personnel detailed on enforcement to treat road users with tolerance, civility, empathy as he called on the public to report any noticeable noncompliance by any transporter to the Corps through the Toll Free emergency numbers 122 or the Public Education Officer through the National traffic radio live lines Glo 08052998090, MTN 09067000015, and SMS on Glo 08052998012.
