FRSC nabs 11,324 traffic offenders in Anambra

Awka —The Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, said it arrested 11,324 motorists for various traffic offences between January and June 2010 in Anambra State.

This comes as Enugu State arm of the commission declared that road accident rate in the state had declined between January and June this year.

Anambra State Sector Commander, Mr Ayobami Omiyale, made this known in an interview with NAN in Awka yesterday.

Motorists committed 12,422 traffic offences

Omiyale said the motorists committed as many as 12,422 traffic offences during the period under review.
He explained that the offences ranged from reckless driving, driving under the influence of alcohol, overloading to refusal to use seat belts and other traffic infringements.
The FRSC commander said that the offenders were, however, fined various sums of money, ranging from N1,000 to N17,000 depending on the gravity of the offence.

Decries attitude of motorcyclists

Omiyale decried the attitude of commercial motorcyclists for their disobedience to traffic rules and regulations, pointing out that 112 motorcyclists were involved in road crashes during the period under review.
He said that 32 persons out of the 89 who lost their lives in road mishaps during the period under review resulted from motorcycle accidents.
“A major challenge that we face in our enforcement of traffic rules and regulations is that Okada riders have sworn not to use the crash helmets in their operations.

36% of accident by motorcyclists

“Thirty six per sent of all the 308 vehicles that got involved in road crashes between January and June in the state were motorcyclists,” the FRSC commander said.
Omiyale noted that if the riders had worn the crash helmets many of the fatal crashes resulting in deaths could have been avoided.

As Enugu accident rate declines

Meanwhile, the FRSC in Enugu State has said the rate of accident in the state had declined within the first six months of the year.
Mr Edward Iheme, a Senior Route Commander, FRSC, Enugu Command, said that only 27 road accidents were reported between January and June in Enugu State.

This was against 50 such accidents recorded within the same period in 2009.