As part of renewed determination to mitigate against the prevalent occurrence of road crashes and fatalities along critical corridors of the nation's highways, the Federal Road Safety Corps has flagged off a nationwide special patrol tagged "Operation Shield", slated for 6th – 12th may, 2013.
According to the FRSC, the all inclusive exercise which coincides with this year's edition of the United Nations global safety week, will witness massive deployment of 191 personnel, 43 patrol vehicles, 7 ambulances and 4 heavy duty tow trucks is designed to achieve drastic reduction of road crashes which has recently occurred along specific routes of the highways.
Speaking on the deployment, the Corps Public Education Officer, Corps Commander Jonas Agwu said " FRSC operatives for corridor 1, covering Kaduna-Abuja highway, will be stationed at Kakau Unit Command as operational base while those for corridor 2 (Lagos-Ibadan highway) will operate from Mowe Unit Command".
In the same vein, he added that Abaji Unit Command will serve as operational base for corridor 3 (Abuja- Lokoja –Zariagi highway) while the Corps' operatives deployed to corridor 4 (Benin-Asaba highway) will operate from Isele-Uku Unit Command.
Jonas also said that the major focus for the special exercise will be on speed limit violation, use of phone while driving, dangerous driving/overtaking and overtaking in addition to other road vices.
The special patrol is coinciding with the 2nd edition of the United Nations global safety week with the theme "Pedestrian Safety" which is aimed at drawing attention to the urgent need to better protect pedestrians and generate actions on the measures that will ensure the realization of the goal of the decade of action for road safety (2011-2020) which seeks to achieve 50% reduction in road crashes and fatalities, translating to the saving of 5 million lives across the globe.
Part of the Corps' plans for the nationwide safety week include robust public enlightenment campaigns, distribution of safety handbills, formal relocation of the office of the Corps Marshal and Chief Executive to the new national headquarters at Wuse Zone 3, advocacy visits to decision/policy makers, corporate partners and relevant stakeholders in road safety, special Juma'at service, cycling/walking rally and special church service.
Via: Federal Road Safety Commission [FRSC] - Official Press Release
They've done well so far in Lagos so far. I must kudos their officers for their fantastic job in this state. Good one I must say.