The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Akwa Ibom says it apprehended 72 road traffic offenders in the state in the last one week.
The State Sector Commander, Mr Ochi Oga, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen during sensitisation of the public on proper use of road along major streets in Uyo metropolis on Wednesday.
Oga said that the arrests were made from the last Sallah period till now for disobience to traffic regulations, like dangerous driving.
He added that the 72 offenders were tried by a mobile court and were convicted for traffic violation.
“As to the arrest concerning the lockdown and others activities, last week we had two sessions of mobile court in the state because we have the Sallah patrol that is expiring this Saturday which was from July 29 and will be expiring August 8 of this month.
“We had together about 72 arrests during that period.
“For overloading of vehicles and then those that were disobedient to others traffic regulations like dangerous driving during this period, we arrested and also brought the to mobile court.
“Those 72 offenders are also convicted by the mobile court. So, that’s the situation on ground,” Oga said.
The sector commander said that the sensitisation exercise was to inform the public and all road users that everyone has the right to use the road.
He said that emphasis would not be to arrest anyone, but to sensitise the public that vehicles users must give way to pedestrians and should not be in a hurry while on the road.
According to him, a number of road users were always in a hurry without considering other road users.
He expressed displeasure over such attitude, stressing that it was one of the major cause of road crashes in the state.
“We are also laying emphasis on who has the right of way at a particular time that level of patience to allow the owner of the road at a time is necessary.
“We notice that a lot of people are so much in a hurry, that they don’t give way to the right owner of the road at a particular time.
“We notice that some of the crashes that we were recorded happened at the roundabout here in Uyo and it is because everybody was in a hurry.
“Yesterday, we recorded about two road crashes and at a close consideration of what happened, we noticed that it was just carelessness that led to those two road crashes.
“As much as possible, we want to lay the emphasis by showing people the right thing to do.
“Again, we have flyers we are distributing with some messages to the general public as to what to do when you get to the highway,” he said.
Oga urged the general publc to always remember that there were other road users and should show consideration, especially to pedestrians and school children to ensure safety on the roads.
