From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), has resolved to commence special intervention patrol against commercial vehicles carrying inflammable substances like petroleum products.
It said unlike the conventional operations, in the course of this intervention patrol, drivers could be prosecuted for compromising the safety of their passengers.
FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, in a statement yesterday by the Corps Public Education Officer, Olusegun Ogungbemide, explained that the move would mitigate fire related road traffic crashes.
According to him, the directives include massive deployment of patrol operatives on the nation’s highways to conduct search and identify vehicles carrying these products;
He added that the content would be emptied into the vehicle when sighted and conduct awareness campaign on drivers and passengers about the dangers of carrying petroleum products in vehicles.
The Corps Marshal further warned that no excuse would be entertained for such dastardly act.
“It is to be a civil engagement that targets at ensuring that those products when sighted, are emptied into the fuel tank of the vehicles.
“You would recall that pursuant to a number of fire related road crashes that occured on the nation’s highways in recent times, the Corps Marshal had ordered a thorough investigation with a view to unravel the main cause of the inferno.
“The investigation report revealed that drivers often carry petroleum products while on transit. As such, in the event of a crash, the impact often result in flames leading to heart wrecking fatalities that would have been avoided.
“In order to bring this to a halt, the Corps Marshal has also directed the Public Education Officers nationwide to compliment the intervention patrol with aggressive sensitisation of road users,” he said.
He therefore called on passengers to always ensure that they take their safety in their very hands by reporting to FRSC patrol teams or through emergency lines whenever they suspect the vehicle they boarded have inflammable substances in them.
This according to him, will help curtail these excesses and enhance the safety of lives and properties as commuters transit from one destination to another.