The Assistant Corps Marshal in-charge of Zone Seven of the FRSC, Augustine Aipoh, said on Friday that the commission was relaxing its compulsory acquisition of fire extinguishers by motorists.
?Aipoh, who spoke at an interactive session with journalists in Minna, said the corps would now adopt persuasion for motorists to get the fire extinguishers.
“Is driving on the road without fire extinguisher a serious traffic offence? The answer is no; fire extinguisher is not a serious traffic offence, so there is no reason to impound a vehicle for that.’'
Aipoh said that only few vehicles were gutted by fire during accidents, adding that the corps would insist that only road worthy vehicles were plying the roads.
“So driving on the road without fire extinguisher is no longer a primary offence, where there is no fire extinguisher we advise the motorist on the need to get one and let him go.’’
On why most motorcyclists are not using the crash helmet, he said that “the issue of crash helmet is a very controversial one.''
“People have brought in cultural and religious issues to it forgetting that when an accident occurs, it does not know whether you are a Christian or Muslim.’’
He said that in order to check the trend, the corps was taking the campaign on the need for every motorcyclist to always use crash helmet to all stakeholders.
“This is because it is for the safety of their lives. Today for instance, we are going to Lapai in Niger to see the Emir over road safety issues, including crash helmet.’’
Aipoh urged motorcyclists to always use their crash helmets for safety and stop making reference to cultural and religious issues on why they were not using them.
He said that any violator arrested for non usage of the helmet, would be made to pay the necessary fine or be charged to court.
He said that officers and men of the corps concentrated in towns to enforce traffic rules and regulations because the cities and towns were more prone.
“That is why you find our men mostly in towns where you have so many motorcycles.’’
?Alhaji Ibrahim Mai-Paper, the Chairman, Abdul-Salam Garage of the NURTW, however said that “it is a must for every driver in my unit to have fire extinguisher.
“This is because it is important to put off fire which may occur anytime. ’’
He said that his unit had ensured that all registered drivers at the motor park owned fire extinguishers as part of road safety measures.
Mai-Paper said that meetings were held at the end of every month to sensitise the drivers on traffic rules and regulations and the need to obey them.
He said the union would soon introduce a traffic department to be charged with the responsibility of checking drivers and their vehicles every morning before they set off on any journey. (NAN)