The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has warned motorists, fleet operators and truck drivers to avoid excess speed, overloading and use of expired tyres to reduce road crashes.

The new Anambra sector commander, Joyce Alexander, issued the warning in Awka on Friday during a meeting with drivers, transport unions and fleet operators in the state.

Mrs Alexander said that the warning became necessary due to the ways drivers drive recklessly, overload their vehicles and transport human beings alongside animals, regardless of the obvious consequences.

According to her, these practices result in avoidable road accident fatality.

“I am barely three weeks old in Anambra and I have been visiting different areas to monitor compliance to road safety rules, where I discovered problems of overloading, speeding and road obstruction.

“This meeting is for us to talk to drivers and fleet operators on the need to adopt a safe attitude, obey traffic rules and consider other road users for a safer travelling experience in Anambra.

“We cannot achieve that without cooperation and partnership between the corps and transport operators.

“I’m appealing for your support as major stakeholders in the transport industry,” Mrs Alexander said.

She identified the use of expired tyres, overloading, excess speed and carrying fuel in gallons as major factors behind road crashes in the country.

“I am advising motorists to ensure that they always check the manufacturing and expiry dates of tyres before buying them.

“Using expired tyres can endanger the lives of drivers and their passengers.

“Always use seat belts, drivers must possess valid licences, ensure passengers’ manifests are properly filled and that they do not carry petrol in gallons.

“These measures are meant to prevent mishaps and unnecessary loss of lives on the highways,” Mrs Alexander said.

She said that a joint task force would be constituted to ensure that defaulters of traffic rules and regulations were punished.

The chairman, Truck Drivers Association of Nigeria, Ozoemena Okoye, who responded on behalf of the fleet operators and transport unions, promised that they would comply with the road safety rules.

Mr Okoye further promised that they would cooperate and support the new sector commander to succeed.

“We will take this message to our various transport companies and unions and ensure that our drivers adhere to road safety rules.

“We, however, appeal to FRSC personnel to treat drivers as partners in progress,” he said.

(NAN)