VIO honourary mayors begin “Operation Safety Drive”, targeting reckless driving

The Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) is to inaugurate a comprehensive programme tagged “Operation safety drive” in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) aimed at curbing reckless driving and reducing road accidents.

Dr Yusuf Suberu, Squadron Leader, Vehicle Inspection Office(VIO) Mayors of the Federation said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

Suberu said that the initiative focused on enforcing traffic regulations, conducting vehicle inspections, and educating motorists on safe driving practices.

He said that study had showed drivers’ actions contributed to a staggering 94 per cent of all Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs).

According to him, reckless driving is a major contributor to road accidents in the FCT, and the mayors are determined to tackle the menace head-on.

“This programme focuses specifically on drivers because drivers’ actions, whether it’s something a driver did, like speeding, or something they didn’t do, such as not paying attention to the driving task are responsible for most crashes.

“As part of the safety drive, the VIO mayors will deploy teams of inspectors to major highways and intersections to monitor compliance with traffic laws.

“Motorists caught violating traffic regulations be will face penalties, including fines, suspension of vehicle licenses, and mandatory safety seminars,”.

Suberu said that the VIO mayors would partner with local communities and stakeholders to promote road safety awareness and encourage responsible driving habits.

He emphasised that safety was a collective responsibility and urged motorists to join hands with the VIO mayors to make the roads safer.

He said that initiative was expected to run from August 1, to December 31, with the VIO monitoring its impact and adjusting strategies as needed.

“By targeting reckless driving and drivers, we aim to significantly reduce road crashes and make the FCT a safer place for all road users,”he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the VIO mayors are volunteers, assisting professional traffic managers in the 36 states and FCT to ease gridlock and traffic challenges through an enlarged volunteerism approach.