FRSC warns motorists against abusing minister’s directive

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Wednesday warned motorists against hiding under recent directive by the FCT minister to violate traffic rules and regulations.

The Sector Commander of the Corps in the territory, Mr Wobin Gora, told newsmen in Abuja that the directive applied only to routine vehicle inspection and did not preclude arrest of traffic law offenders.

In March, the FCT Minister Muhammad Bello, directed traffic management officials to stop checking vehicle papers during peak traffic hours till further notice.

The directive, which is still in force, covers the hours between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. and between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

It came after it was observed that officials were more into checking of vehicle particulars within the periods thereby obstructing free flow of traffic instead of traffic control to ease congestion.

“I understand that between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. we are not supposed to stop vehicles for routine checks, especially on routes with high traffic density.

“By the minister’s directive, we are expected to ensure that traffic flows but that does not mean we cannot arrest offenders.

“If I sight an overloaded vehicle, somebody using phone, somebody not on seatbelt, somebody beating traffic light or driving dangerously, I will pull that person out and arrest him.

“I am sure the minister will even clap for me for arresting such offenders because they pose danger to other road users,’’ Gora said.

The sector commander, who was once Head of Operations at the FCT command, identified traffic light violation as a common offence in the territory.

To check the menace, he promised massive deployment of men and patrol motorcycles to traffic light points.

Gora said his problem with traffic law offenders was that when arrested they whipped up sentiments to gain the sympathy of passersby.

He said such antics had misled passersby into harassing FRSC officials on several occasions in the past.

He expressed the determination of the command to reduce the high rate of traffic offences in the territory.