Eid-el-Kabir: FRSC deploys 743 patrol vehicles, 92 ambulances

To guarantee a safe and accident-free Eid-el-Kabir, Shehu Mohammed, the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, has directed the deployment of more than 743 patrol vehicles across the country.

Mohammed made this announcement on Friday at a press conference in Abuja. He also mentioned that the Eid-el-Kabir special patrol's deployment is set to start on June 14, 2024.

Shehu declared, "As part of the patrol logistics, over 743 patrol vehicles, 184 administrative vehicles, 92 ambulances, 23 tow trucks, and 144 motorbikes are being deployed."

"Additionally, among the equipment reserved for the special operations are reflective jackets, traffic cones, tyre pressure gauges, multiple extrication machines and digital breathalysers."

He continued by saying that 23 assistance zones have been activated to guarantee the timely removal of impediments and rescue operations during the period.
He mentioned that this was on top of the fifteen traffic control camps that would be devoted to identifying areas of traffic congestion that our staff would be on duty to monitor around-the-clock.

"The Corps has established a Situation Room at the national headquarters to facilitate efficient monitoring and timely action. Its purpose is to keep an eye on activities throughout the nation and gather, compile, and analyse data for distribution to pertinent commands and stakeholders as needed.

This is on top of the 53 Zebra points scattered along the main thoroughfares and the 28 Road Traffic Crash Clinics. The corps marshal continued, "92 ambulances would cover this, fully utilised for quick response to crashes and rescue of injured victims to hospitals for more professional attention."

Mohammed outlined several current trends that seriously jeopardise road safety, including the use of trucks and trailers for human transportation, nighttime travel, driver fatigue, speeding, drunk driving, and overcrowding in vehicles.

He said that the FRSC has responded by putting in place a number of important safety measures.

One of the initiatives entails the efficient cooperation of the state judiciary and the Nigerian Bar Association in the prompt prosecution of drivers and vehicle owners who break traffic laws.

He mentioned that mobile court operations will be used to address offences like overloading, reckless driving, and using a phone while operating a vehicle.

Furthermore, the corps marshal stated that the FRSC has stepped up efforts to stop driving while impaired by alcohol or other drugs.

"It is gratifying to note that the Corps introduced some key safety initiatives to tackle the menace," the corps marshal stated. "It is especially developments coming from these unsafe behaviours like the use of trailers to convey passengers. These actions are a result of the need to combat this ugly trend and keep up with the times.

"Result-oriented efforts have been made to effectively collaborate with the Nigerian Bar Association and State judiciaries for the prompt prosecution of drivers and vehicle owners found in violation of established traffic regulations, such as overloading, dangerous driving, using a phone while driving and speeding. This is one of these efforts. Mobile court operations will serve as a tool to curb these infractions.

We have also taken strong action against driving while intoxicated or under the influence of other drugs. In order to check and stop drivers who control the wheels while intoxicated, the Corps and the Beer Sectorial Group have been able to provide enough breathalysers, which have been placed in motor parks and on highways.

The risky practice of caravan drivers transporting people, products and animals all at once was also addressed by the FRSC.

He claimed that as a result, the Inter-Agency Joint Task Force was established and that since then, it has effectively detained 222 trailers carrying 3,169 people.