The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ondo State Command, says it will continue to clamp down on vehicles with excessive smoke emission and mechanical deficiency.

FRSC sector commander in the state, Ezekiel SonAllah, stated this at a news briefing to mark the 2023 United Nations Road Safety Week (UNRSW) on Monday in Akure.

“The command is organising a special patrol to clamp down on vehicles with excessive smoke emission and mechanical deficiency,” said the sector commander.

Mr SonAllah said UNRSW was a biennial global road safety campaign that brought together individuals, government, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other stakeholders.

The sector commander, who explained that the command had already arrested four vehicles this month for smoke offences, said the programme was to reduce the negative impacts of excessive smoke on the environment.

“To start with, the command has already arrested four mechanically-deficient vehicles in the month of May 2023. This is going to be backed up with mobile courts,” he said.

According to him, the increase in greenhouse gasses created by transport is increasingly becoming a cause for concern in cities where atmosphere pollution indicators are considered a public health issue.

Mr SonAllah said sustainable transport referred to low and zero-emission, energy-efficient and affordable modes of transportation, including electric and alternative fuel vehicles, as well as domestic fuel.

He highlighted the environmental benefits of sustainable transportation, including less pollution and clearer skies, healthier communities and harmful chemical reduction.

Mr SonAllah, therefore, called on motorists and the general public to ensure that only roadworthy vehicles were made to ply the road to prevent or minimise road traffic crashes on the highway.

“I want to advocate for the use of non-motorised modes of transportation as a way of reducing pollution in our environment,” he said.

The sector commander said that the command had achieved a 27 per cent decrease in the rate of fatal crashes in the first quarter of 2023 and a 39 per cent decrease in the number of casualties.

“From January to March 2022, the number of fatal accidents recorded was 26, while 19 were recorded in 2023. A total of 382 casualties were recorded in 2022 and 233 in 2023.

“Also, 949 people were involved in various crashes between January and March 2022, and 471 in 2023, making a 50.3 per cent reduction in the rate of crashes,” he said.

(NAN)