[OPINION]
by Imo-owo
Mbede
Can we sincerely say that the Federal Road Safety
Corps (FRSC) has been efficient at making Nigerian roads safer? I doubt. I
would rather say that the FRSC is more efficient at extorting money from road users, as against its primary
obligation of ensuring that our roads are safe for users.
A Federal Road Safety official pulls you over and
demands to see your drivers' license, which I presume should certify your
eligibility and authorization to drive. Unfortunately, the drivers' license
does not prove whether or not one can drive – because till date I DO NOT
REMEMBER EVER SEEING THE FRSC CONDUCTING DRIVING TESTS BEFORE ISSUING A
DRIVERS' LICENSE. (They now do so through accredited driving schools, but that’s
a very recent development – and as Nigerians, we know what that means….)
All the while, it was all about the money; for as
long as you could afford it, the FRSC was more than willing to issue you a
license (and so my blind uncle has a drivers’ license which is only useful when
he needs to collect Western Union). The proliferation of fake drivers’ licenses
within Road Safety’s ranks is testimony to this.
The Road Safety Corps has been efficient in
checking for (vehicles without) caution triangles, spare tyres and fire
extinguishers in vehicles; but how many times have the lack of these items been
the cause of hazard to the road users? My friend's father once told a Road
Safety Officer, "if fire enter my
motor, na you e go burn?" And I was tempted to agree with him.
My thinking is that DRIVERS SHOULD BE SCHOOLED ON
THE BENEFITS AND ADVISED TO OWN ONE – FOR THEIR GOOD – NOT PENALIZED!
Otherwise, why does the Road Safety Official let
you go after booking (or extorting money from) you for not owning a caution triangle
or fire extinguisher? Wouldn’t it make more sense if he ensured that you
purchase one (or better still, SOLD one to you) before letting you off?
The FRSC checks to see if your car headlights,
brake lights and turning indicator lights are functional. Good job. And if they
are dysfunctional, the FRSC extorts money from you regardless of whether you
fix the lighting system in the car.
And so I ask: WHAT IS THE SENSE IN MAKING MONEY
OFF THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WITH A FAULTY LIGHTING SYSTEM WHO ENDS UP
ENDANGERING THE LIVES OF OTHER ROADS USERS WHEN HE DRIVES OUT THAT SAME CAR AT
NIGHT?
Similarly, where is the FRSC at night to check
those people who have difficulties seeing at night? What about the many people
driving even with impaired vision during the day time? What is the Road Safety
doing to ensure that such drivers are prevented from subsisting as the menace
they pose to other road?
How about those overloaded trucks with yam and
other food stuff which could actually fall-off on an oncoming vehicle? How
about those trucks (on Benin-Asaba road for instance) that are so overloaded that
they can barely ascend hilly roads, and end up descending towards on-coming
vehicles? How about those emitting thick exhaust fumes and making visibility
difficult for vehicles behind them?
How about those broken down lorries, trucks and
trailers and the many accident vehicles lying for days to months on major
highways, encroaching on other road users' space?
Imagine the beauty of having a 24 hour auto-repair
service plying the roads to assist faulty vehicles. I'm sure these measures
would be very viable sources of revenue while making the road truly safe for us
all.
The FRSC has recently been armed with another
tool for extortion – checking for expired tyres – after the unfortunate
incident that claimed the life of a Minister and family. While this is supposed
to be a welcome development (though the FRSC is as guilty of using expired
tyres), I think it should also focus on the overall road worthiness of vehicles
on Nigerian roads because more than half of the vehicles are used, imported
ones.
Unfortunately, the FRSC has already pounced on
road users even when they too are as guilty of using sub-standard tyres when
emphasis should be laid on ensuring that tyres put up for sale to the public is
of the best quality.
FRSC is supposed to be alive to its
responsibility of ensuring Road Safety by liaising with appropriate authorities
like the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to ensure that minimum road
standards are maintained and that roads do not deteriorate to become the death
traps that have become of the Benin-Ore road, Enugu-Owerri road, Itu-Calabar
and many other such roads across the country.
I have actually witnessed a Road Safety Unit
mount a checkpoint on a bad stretch on road which also had a broken down lorry
in the middle of the road so all vehicles would be compelled to slow down. This
was outright irresponsible and wicked because all too soon, a serious hold up ensued.
This
is not intended to mask or absolve Nigerians of the road users of their
susceptibility to breaking the law. Many drivers today learnt to
drive by accident or, at best, informally and so many have limited
knowledge of traffic rules. Others are just outright recalcitrant. I strongly believe however that, the FRSC should review its modus
operandi and tend away from a punitive disposition.
If, with just uniforms, the Road Safety is so
adept at extorting money from Nigerians, we should be grateful they do not
carry guns...
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