FRSC cautions fun seekers during valentine

The FRSC had placed its operatives on intensive routine patrols at strategic locations nationwide, in order to have an accident-free Valentine's  Day on Friday (today).

The corps admonished motorists to celebrate love with caution by obeying all traffic rules and regulations, adding that patrol teams had been mandated to arrest and prosecute on the spot fun-seekers who violate the laws.

A statement by the Corps Public Education Officer, Jonas Agwu, on Thursday in Abuja, stated that the Valentine's Day initiative was part of the FRSC nationwide intervention patrols.

This, the statement said, was pursuant to the corps' 2014 strategic goals with a projection for 15 percent reduction in road crashes and 25 percent decrease in fatalities.

It warned drivers to desist from such road vices as excessive speeding, which it said ranked as the number one cause of road crashes in the country; use of phone while driving, non-use of seat belt by vehicle occupants and overloading.

The statement also warned against negative impact of drunk driving, which it said often resulted in blackouts, euphoria, loss of co-ordination, balance impairment, poor judgement, impaired memory and slow reaction among drivers.

It said, "Alcohol-related road crashes have remained a major global concern, which has taken the front burner over the years; the Corps in compliance with the United Nations decade of action for road safety, has developed its awareness campaigns and enforcement of traffic rules around four major pillars of drunk-driving, use of mobile phone while driving, overloading and speed violation."

 The road safety agency therefore urged fun-seekers during valentine to be conscious of their basic alcohol limits while drinking and to ensure proper functioning of vehicles, including the head and tail lights in order to enhance visibility while driving at night.