The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Friday inaugurated “Operation Shark Smile,” a three-day special enforcement exercise aimed at reducing road traffic crashes across the South-South geopolitical zone.

The exercise, approved by the RS6 zonal command, will run from July 20 to July 22 in Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa states.

The sector commander of FRSC in Cross River, Innocent Etuk, said the operation was designed to strengthen compliance with traffic regulations and tackle violations that contribute to road crashes.

Mr Etuk said patrol teams had been deployed to major highways and strategic corridors across the zone to monitor traffic and enforce compliance with road safety standards.

According to him, the operation will target dangerous driving, speeding, overloading, tyre violations, mechanically deficient vehicles and failure to install speed-limiting devices in commercial and private vehicles.

“Officers will also enforce compliance on seat belt use, mobile phone use while driving, vehicle number plate offences and other crash-inducing violations,” he said.

The sector commander said the identified offences remained major contributors to road traffic crashes recorded across the South-South zone in recent years.

He warned that motorists violating national road traffic regulations would face appropriate sanctions under the law.

Mr Etuk advised motorists to ensure their vehicles were roadworthy before embarking on journeys and to comply with all traffic regulations to enhance safety on highways.

He urged drivers to obey speed limits, avoid dangerous overtaking, wear seat belts and ensure their vehicle documents remained valid at all times.

He emphasised that “Operation Shark Smile” was aimed at protecting lives, promoting road discipline and ensuring safer highways, rather than punishing law-abiding motorists.

Mr Etuk also urged members of the public to cooperate with FRSC personnel and report reckless driving or emergencies through the agency’s toll-free emergency number, 122.

(NAN)