The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Anambra State Command, has taken the clampdown on articulated vehicles in the state to the industrial town of Nnewi and its environs.
The operation tagged “War against Articulated Vehicle Crash” was held simultaneously at the Traffic Light Junction, Nnewi and Nnobi on Thursday.
Speaking to newsmen, Mr. Andrew Kumapayi, the Sector Commander of FRSC in Anambra State, said the campaign was against the alarming rate of road crashes related to heavy duty trucks.
Kumapayi said the operation was kicked off in Onitsha on Tuesday adding that it would be carried out in every part of the state and sustained until there was a change of attitude in the drivers.
He urged offenders who were penalised to fix their vehicles or face prosecution if caught for the second time.
The sector commander warned that there was no vehicle driver that was above the law and that the FRSC would not condone reckless driving from any road user no matter the status of the company.
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“We are on Operation Total War on Articulated Vehicles; this is in reaction to the observed increase in the number of crashes involving trailers (articulated vehicles), tippers and trucks in Anambra State.
“We started it in Onitsha on Tuesday and today we are in Nnewi; we shall take it to every part under the command and we will do it on a continuous basis until these drivers and owners have a change of heart to road safety.
“There is no going back and nobody or company is above the law,” he said.
Speaking on the operation, Asst. Corps Commander Christy Obasi, the Unit Commander, Nnewi, said no fewer than 44 vehicles were impounded on Tuesday.
Obasi said the offences were largely on Light Sign Violation, Worn-Out tyres, Spending, Failure to Install Speed Limiter, non-use of seatbelt and Dangerous Driving.
She said the command had mobilised its personnel across the unit for effective implementation of the enforcement.
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According to her, the command will also educate other road users on the need to be more safety conscious and guard themselves from possible harm from articulated vehicles.
“So far we have arrested 44 truck drivers for various offences; 32 here in Nnewi and 12 in Nnobi.
“We are working to ensure that this category of road users adhere strictly to standard traffic rules and that fatality is reduced considerably,” he said.
One of the offenders, Lawrence Onyeka, blamed poor maintenance of vehicle on bad economy.
Onyeka said he was worried with the level of accidents and would like to cooperate with the FRSC to ensure safer roads. (NAN)