The Federal Road Safety Corps says it has deployed 1,400 personnel and 20 patrol vehicles in Ondo to ease the movement of motorists during the Eid el-Kabir celebration.

Samuel Ibitoye, FRSC state sector commander, disclosed this on Wednesday in Akure.

Mr Ibitoye, who explained that the deployment comprised personnel from regular and special marshals, said the aim was to record zero crashes before and after the celebration.

According to him, the patrol team will be on the road 24 hours a day to ensure no fatalities are recorded and to respond to any incidents that may occur on the road.

“Meanwhile, our ambulances will be stationed at strategic points across the state; our recovery vehicles and bikes will be available as well to rescue,” he said.

Mr Ibitoye also said any vehicle driving against the traffic rules would be impounded and called on parents to ensure their underaged children did not drive or “risk the law”.

“And for those who are stubborn or not going by the traffic rules, we are going to organise a mobile court which will give instant judgement.

“All this is for the motorists to be cautious and not to commit any infraction that could cause any road traffic crashes on highways.

“If there are zero crashes, people can easily travel and go back to their destination safely,” he said.

The sector commander, therefore, appealed to transport unions to admonish their members not to speed or overload their vehicles to avoid the negative effects of their actions.

He added, “Drivers need to be patient on the wheel so that they can arrive alive and safely because FRSC will continue to speak against it, act against it, and enforce against it.

“Lives of the drivers and passengers and other road users are paramount to us, and the life of the vehicle and longevity of the road itself need to be taken into consideration.

“More so, we are appealing to the driver’s union to get rid of those hawkers who sell alcohol and hard drugs at the parks so that drivers could have their brains intact when on highways.” 

(NAN)