FRSC seeks improved fines for phone users on wheels

*74 FRSC officials killed in 18 months, says Boboye

The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi, says the Corps is advocating an upward review of fines payable by users of mobile telephones while on the wheels.

The Corps Marsha also said that a minimum fine of N50, 000 to N100, 000 would serve best as a deterrence to defaulters rather than the
paltry sum being currently demanded from defaulters.

He spoke at the Haulage and Logistics Magazine Annual Conference and Exhibition (HULMACE) held in Lagos. Boboye also said no fewer than 74 Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) officials were killed by reckless drivers in the last 18 months across the country.

Boboye who warned that the commission would stop at nothing to bring killers of his personnel to justice added that plans were already on
for road traffic offenders to be meted stiffer punishment.

The FRSC boss said, “Already there are efforts before the National Assembly to jerk up the fine payable for a phone use while on the
wheels.

What is currently obtainable can not do the work, but when you have to pay N50, 000 to N100, 000 for using your phone while driving, then we will get somewhere.

“In the last 18 months, I have lost about 74 lives. We will not stop at
ensuring the prosecution of those errand drivers.

“It is my responsibility to ensure the safety of my personnel on the highway, so if you knock down my personnel and you are running away, I will go after you.

Explaining further, the Corps Marshal said it was discovered during the last Sallah patrols, 30 per cent of articulated vehicle drivers do
not see at night.

“During the last Sallah festival we observed that most drivers do not see well at night, it is the motor boys that drive them.

“So, we conducted a vision test on the highway and motor parks and we observed that 30 percent of the articulated vehicle drivers have
vision problem and that is also contributing to the crashes.

“When drivers have a vision problem, they should go to an optometrist who will refer them to ophtamlogist to correct their sights.

“We are also talking to them on the need to have speed limit control on their vehicles. The price has come down to N15,000 so the noise
about cost isn’t valid anymore.”

Boboye said a great number of drivers did not know how to drive, blaming driving schools for not leaving up to expectation.

He continued, “We presently have 1,450 registered driving schools and over 500 were suspended due to malpractices and not following the
process.

Earlier, Managing Director of A&A Global Leasing Services, Mrs. Oluwaseye Yomi-Sholoye had called on governments at all levels to
rehabilitate roads noting that the state of the roads was making elongating trips and causing untold hardships.

Her words, “This is a major challenge for hauliers. We will like the Federal Government to please look into this.

“We do not allow night driving in my company. As a matter of policy, all our drivers pack their vehicles once it’s 7:00 p.m.

“I think the problem of lack of training is mostly with those unprofessional hauliers on the streets.

“We train our drivers regularly and do recertification. They have to go through these trainings before they can be allowed to enter the
premises of our clients.’’