CORPS Marshal of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Boboye Oyeyemi on Tuesday affirmed that the commission was undaunted in subjecting traffic law offenders to psychological and emotional evaluation from July 1, 2017, chiding notions that the move of the commission was militant.
Oyeyemi who gave this affirmation when he led other officers of the commission to Tribune House, Ibadan, on a courtesy visit, said such offences as the use of phone while driving, beating traffic light, overloading and dangerous driving defied logic, hence the need to subject such drivers to the test.
He said habitual acts of people texting while driving, turning on hazard light indiscriminately to face oncoming traffic, loading animals and humans in vehicles among other route violations was unacceptable.
Such offenders, he said, would be asked to go to teaching hospitals for their mental and psychological state to be examined.
“We are saying that the use of phones while driving is not allowed. People text while driving, endangering their lives and that of others. If it becomes a habit, the person should be examined. The traffic light turns red asking you to stop, yet you move, jumping traffic light, it means something must be wrong.
“We also won’t tolerate dangerous driving or people moving against oncoming traffic. We will subject such drivers to psychological and emotional test, by asking them to go to teaching hospitals. We have a mandate to preserve lives and people should stop calling us militant for this move,” Oyeyemi stated.
Advocating attitudinal change by the drivers in obeying traffic laws, Oyeyemi pointed out that the focus on effective rail system by the Federal Government was bound to reduce pressure on the nation’s roads.
On challenges on the issuance of driver’s license, Oyeyemi said the commission had cleared the backlog up till April, assuring that the all other outstanding licenses will be issued in the next two months.
“We have cleared the backlog of drivers licences up till April. We had issues with foreign exchange but the materials to make the licences are now sourced locally. In the next two months, we will have cleared the backlog,” he said.
Among other enlightenment efforts, the FRSC boss said the highway code was being translated into the three major languages.
Oyeyemi was accompanied by Zonal Commanding Officer, RS 11 Osogbo, Mr Austin Aipoh; Sector Commander, Oyo State Command, Mrs Kike Alao; Corps Public Education Officer, Mr Bisi Kazeem, among other officers.
In welcoming the FRSC team, Managing Director/Editor in Chief, Nigerian Tribune, Mr Edward Dickson charged the commission to increase its advocacy and education of drivers.
Such enlightenment, Dickson noted, was essential to prevent accidents borne out of ignorance of drivers on using the roads and highways.
Dickson, who led other members of his management team, assured that Tribune would continue to support the FRSC in its advocacy campaigns, especially through constructive criticisms.
Some members of the Tribune management team that welcomed the FRSC boss were, Editor, Nigerian Tribune, Mr Debo Abdulai; Editor Sunday Tribune, Mr Shina Oladeinde; Editor Saturday Tribune, Mr Lasisi Olagunju; General Manager, Online Services, Ms Tinuola Ayanniyi; Controller (Business Development), Mr Fola Oke and the Chief Accountant, Mrs Oluremi Olufisayo.
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