… Special patrol targets overloading, fake number plates, unlicensed and drunk drivers
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Cross River Sector Command, has announced the commencement of a statewide crackdown on traffic offenders, with a special intervention patrol operation scheduled to begin on Monday, June 29, across major highways and urban roads in the state.
The operation, according to the Sector Commander, Corps Commander Innocent Tommy Etuk, is aimed at enforcing compliance with traffic regulations, reducing road traffic crashes and promoting responsible driving among motorists and transport operators.
Etuk, who disclosed this in a press statement issued in Calabar, said the enforcement exercise would focus on motorists and commercial drivers who violate critical traffic regulations, including vehicle overloading, driver’s licence offences, number plate violations and driving under the influence of alcohol or psychoactive substances.
“The exercise forms part of the Corps’ sustained efforts to create a safer road environment and promote responsible driving culture among road users in the state,” he said.
The Sector Commander warned transport operators against overloading passengers or goods, describing the practice as one of the leading causes of vehicle instability, brake failure, tyre bursts and fatal road crashes.
“Overloading remains one of the leading causes of vehicle instability, brake failure, tyre bursts and fatal road traffic crashes. Transport operators and commercial drivers must desist from this dangerous practice,” Etuk warned.
He further stressed that every driver must possess a valid driver’s licence, noting that the document is proof that the holder has undergone the required training and certification to operate a vehicle safely on public roads.
Etuk also expressed concern over the increasing incidence of fake, obscured, unregistered and improperly displayed number plates, emphasizing that proper vehicle identification is critical to effective traffic management, crime prevention and national security.
As part of the operation, patrol teams will deploy alcohol detection devices (Alcolyzers) to conduct random checks on motorists, with anyone found driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs to be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The FRSC boss assured members of the public that the special intervention patrol would be conducted professionally, transparently and in line with the Corps’ standard operating procedures while respecting the rights of citizens.
He called on motorists to cooperate with FRSC personnel and comply with all traffic regulations, stressing that road safety remains a shared responsibility requiring the collective commitment of every road user to prevent crashes and save lives.
By Kingsley Agim
