FRSC Convicts 476 Traffic Offenders

The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) said on Thursday that it prosecuted 509 traffic offenders and convicted 476 during its routine mobile court sessions in Anambra State from January to June.
The Sector Commander in the state, Mr Hygienus Omeje, told newsmen in Awka that 33 others were discharged and acquitted by the court.
According to him, a total of 6,645 offenders who committed 7,136 various offences were also arrested within the period under review.
A total of 151 crashes were recorded out of which 37 were fatal crashes, 80 people were killed and 444 others injured. The total casualty of the injured and total number killed is 524.
“It is good to know that 675 others were rescued unhurt by our prompt intervention and professional dexterity and  out of these offenders and offences, the most prevalent causes still remain riding without crash helmets by okada riders, non-compliance with the use of seat belts and of course light signs. You will discover that the issue of over-speeding is a major factor here, loss of control, over loading and warn out tyre,” he said.
The sector commander urged motorists to abide by the laid down traffic rules when driving, especially those plying the Enugu-Onitsha express way where most accidents were recorded.
He also warned that the Commission had made it mandatory that certain offenders would be tried in court instead of simply issuing tickets to them for payment of fine.
“More often, people think that FRSC is about issuing you a ticket, go and pay fine. Some have misinterpreted it as being a revenue generation organisation, but it is not so.
When you understand the fact that it is not just about going to go and pay fine, then you will be careful.
“I said it that if you pay the fine, you are already a convict so that people will know that we have you on our record. I also want to use this medium to warn that there are offences that we have made it categorically clear that people will not pay. We must prosecute you. The use of phone while driving, we don’t allow you to pay again, we must take you to court”, he said.
“The issue of knocking down FRSC personnel, we are not going to settle out of court, we are not going to do anything, we must get to the court; and the issue of dangerous driving.
“These issues we must prosecute such a person in court. There is no option in it. I want to pay fine; we are not interested in your fine,” he said.