The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Tuesday urged residents of Enugu State to obey traffic rules, especially traffic control lights mounted within Enugu and Nsukka metropolis in 2023.

The sector commander of FRSC, Enugu State Command, Joseph Toby, said this in Enugu after monitoring major road corridors of the state as part of the ongoing “Operation Zero Tolerance to Road Traffic Crashes.”

Mr Toby noted that the state government had placed traffic control lights in most junctions within the metropolises to ease traffic and keep orderliness on the road.

According to him, it is still baffling to see most motorists, especially commercial vehicles, driving as if they did not notice the traffic light or its signs.

“In 2023, our motorists should make use of the traffic light control for their own safety, ease of traffic and ensure orderliness since beating the traffic light control most times causes avoidable traffic jams.

“Another issue is that of maintaining lane discipline while on the roads.

“We have observed that the daily hold-ups in some internal routes within the Enugu metropolis are caused by drivers not maintaining lane discipline and following a queue to ensure traffic flow where there is a slight hold-up,” he said.

He called on the residents to be accommodating while on the road, adding that the road did not belong to anybody.

“Do not struggle with anyone on the road as your family members, friends, and well-wishers are waiting for your safe arrival, so apply caution and restraint in all you do on the road,” he warned.

The sector commander also reminded residents to avoid night journeys due to the inherent dangers of a driver likely dozing off or an armed robbery attack.

On the ongoing “Operation Zero Tolerance to Road Traffic Crashes,” Mr Toby noted that the state had continued to witness increased traffic as a transit state, but low rate of traffic crashes was compared with the previous yuletide season (2021-2022).

The sector commander noted that the command had enjoyed a robust cordial working relationship with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on its “Operation Eagle Eye” in major road corridors in the state.

He said that the FRSC had continued to receive cooperation from the Nigerian Army, police, NSCDC, state Ministry of Transport, and Federal and State Fire Services.

(NAN)