by crossriverwatch admin
Mr. Rekpene Bassey, the Cross River State Security Adviser has called on the Federal Road Safety Corps to stop the issuance of drivers’ licenses to illiterates without adequate education and sensitization on road signs and how to obey such signs.
Mr. Bassey who made the call on Friday in his office in Calabar when the new Federal Road Safety Commander, Alvansus Nwachukwu paid him a courtesy call in his office said there are many people in the state who have no business driving vehicles on the roads because such persons hardly obey road signs because they are illiterate and cannot read road signs or cannot obey such signs because they are of no significance to them.
He said, “In the past, the Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) do carry out comprehensive tests on people applying to be granted drivers’ license and only those who passed such tests were considered eligible for licenses but the practice now is that every Tom, Dick and Harry is given such licenses without tests and this has greatly contributed to the high rate of accidents and carnage on our roads”.
He also called on the FRSC to conduct periodic checks on drivers to fish out those who drive while drunk to forestall the occurrence of frequent accidents on the roads.
“Some accidents we see particularly during weekends are worrisome and leave one to wonder if such vehicles are driven by people who are not under the influence of alcohol or drugs; frequent checks and tests on drivers will fish out those who are driving under any influence”.
The State Security Adviser said the ban on the use of motor cycles for commercial purposes in Calabar saw many okada operators transform to emergency taxi drivers without the patience to gain the prerequisite training and experience before driving, making them cause frequent accidents on the roads.
“After the ban on Okada in Calabar, many vehicles were purchased under franchise including government and these vehicles were used as taxis by those who used to be okada riders and many of them did not receive the appropriate training before being granted licenses by the FRSC and they do not observe roads signs which lead to constant accidents on our roads”.
Mr. Bassey assured the new Sector Commander of government partnership and continued co-operation to ensure that the state is accident free or has the lowest accident rate in the country.
Mr. Nwachukwu, the Sector Commander told Mr. Bassey that he was transferred from Imo State where he served as Sector Commander and was knowledgeable in the art of Road Safety and assured that the FRSC would partner with the state to ensure safety on the roads at all times.
“The FRSC should be a part of the Quick Intervention Service operations in the state since safety issues include the roads.”
He said the Sector has four operational units which comprise Ogoja, Ikom, Abi and Calabar.
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