The Federal Road Safety Corps has apprehended 162,834 traffic offenders nationwide from January to June, 2023, The PUNCH has learnt.
The corps spokesperson, Bisi Kazeem, disclosed this to our correspondent on Sunday.
According to Kazeem, the traffic offenders were arrested for committing 179,165 offences.
He said, “From January to June 2023 alone, the corps recorded a total of 162,834 arrest of traffic offenders and a total of 179,165 offences.”
Speaking on the types of offences leading to the arrests, the FRSC spokesperson said, “They were arrested for speeding, seatbelt use violation, route violation, light sign violation, use of phone while driving, overloading, and dangerous driving.”
Speaking with our correspondent on Sunday, the Chief Executive Officer, Professional Driving and Safety Academy, Jide Owatunmise, said there was a need for the FRSC to employ more technologies, including installation of CCTV cameras “at the blind spots to capture traffic offenders.”
“The CCTV cameras can be linked to the BVN of vehicle owners for instant deduction of the traffic offences fines without human involvement.
“The captured offenders can be arrested instantly, later or prevented from renewing their vehicle particulars, driver’s licence, or make any insurance claims until they fully settle their fines and also do mandatory refresher training in accredited driving schools.
“The use of mobile small claim courts should be continuously used to prosecute traffic offenders,” he said.
Meanwhile, the FRSC spokesman also disclosed that no fewer than 4,387 people were killed as a result of road traffic crashes between January and June across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
Kazeem said, “The corps also recorded 14,108 injuries from the crashes within the same period.
“These crashes occurred as a result of night trips, fatigue, route violation, dangerous overtaking, use of worn out/expired tyres and speeding.
“And you know our men do not operate at night, as such these drivers take advantage of our absence on the road at night to violate established traffic regulations.”
Kazeem said an investigation by the FRSC also showed that a lot of the crashes involved untrained and inexperienced drivers.
