FRSC nabs 162,834 site visitors offenders in six months

From January through June 2023, the Federal Road Safety Corps arrested 162,834 traffic offenders countrywide.

This information was provided to our journalist on Sunday by the corps’ spokesperson, Bisi Kazeem.

Kazeem claims that the 179,165 infractions for which the traffic offenders were arrested.

“The corps recorded a total of 162,834 arrests of traffic offenders and a total of 179,165 offences from January to June 2023 alone,” he claimed.

The FRSC spokeswoman gave the following details about the offences that led to the arrests: “They were arrested for speeding, seatbelt use violation, route violation, light sign violation, use of phone while driving, overloading, and dangerous driving.”

Jide Owatunmise, Chief Executive Officer of the Professional Driving and Safety Academy, told our correspondent on Sunday that the FRSC needed to use more technology, including installing CCTV cameras “at the blind spots to capture traffic offenders.”

“The CCTV cameras can be connected to the BVN of vehicle owners for immediate, automated deduction of traffic violation fees.

“The caught offenders may be immediately detained, detained later, or prohibited from renewing their car information, driving licence, or filing any insurance claims until they have paid their fines in full and have completed the required refresher instruction at approved driving schools.

He argued that traffic offenders should always be prosecuted using mobile small claim courts.

The FRSC spokesman also revealed that between January and June, 4,387 individuals died in road traffic accidents across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

“The corps also recorded 14,108 injuries from the crashes during the same time period,” Kazeem continued.

These accidents happened as a result of nighttime driving, exhaustion, route violations, risky overtaking, using worn-out or expired tyres, and speeding.

And as you are aware, our guys do not drive at night; therefore, these drivers take advantage of our absence from the road at night to break the law.

According to Kazeem, an FRSC examination also revealed that many of the collisions involved novice and untrained drivers.