AWKA – Mr Sunday Ajayi, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Anambra, has advised motorists to ensure that every occupant of their vehicles used a seatbelt.
Ajayi disclosed this on Tuesday in Awka while briefing newsmen on the activities of the command.
He said the emphasis in the usage of seatbelt was part of the efforts to increase road safety by the FRSC.
Ajayi said that non compliance by motorist had contributed to the high rate of fatality from road accidents.
The commander said that the command had commenced advocacy on the usage of seatbelts by all passengers.
He said that enforcement would soon commence to ensure full compliance.
“The use of seatbelt is compulsory for all passengers in all vehicles for their own good; it is now in force and arrests will begin soon.
“Most deaths from road crashes were as a result of non use of seatbelt and we are determined to drastically reduce fatality through this measure,” he said.
Ajayi, however, said that road safety is a shared responsibility of all road users.
He said that the law banning motorcycle operators from plying the highways and use of crash helmet was still in operation.
Ajayi warned motorcycle riders to ensure that they did not operate outside the routes they were permitted to operate.
“This year, we will continue to advocate and enforce the law on Okada operators; they must use their crash helmet for themselves and their passengers.
“ They must not do business on the highways; this is because we don’t want to record deaths and disabilities from motorcycle accidents.
“A large percentage of arrested offenders, last year, were Okada people and this applies to tricycle operators too.
“They must all help us to help them have a free and safe motoring this year,” he said.
Reports state that a total of 705 convictions were secured for 773 offenders arraigned before the mobile court in 2014 against 1685 and 1,791 convictions in 2013.
The command also said that road crashes recorded in 2014 were 273 resulting in 110 deaths compared to 293 accidents and 127 deaths recorded in 2013.
The number of arrests was 27,726 for 29,052 offences in 2014 against 15,330 arrests and for 16,266 offences in 2013.
