Edo drivers are the most reckless road users in the Benin zone (comprising Edo, Delta and Anambra states) of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and they disobey road traffic signs with reckless abandon, the commanding officer of the zone, Mr. Charles Akpabio, has said.
Akpabio, who fielded questions from journalists in Benin City, however, stated that the zone would “in the spirit of this Valentine season caution offending motorists rather than ask them to pay fine”.
He said statistics show that road crashes between Feb. 12 and Feb. 16 since 2010 to 2013 have always been on the increase.
According to him, “the operation Valentine is the command’s initiative and it’s our gesture to waive fine for offenders in the ‘spirit of love’ which the Valentine represent”.
The commander further explained that the zone have decided to collaborate with the state traffic management agency to ensure that road users obey traffic laws.
“Government spends so much resources to put in place safety gadget only for drivers to recklessly disobey them.”
Meanwhile, no fewer than eight persons on Wensday lost their lives in a fatal road crash alone the Benin-Ore Lagos highway.
The accident, which occurred at Ugbogui community in Edo state axis of the road, involved an 18 seater commercial bus marked CT 874 FST and a Mercedes Benz truck with registration MUS 570 SS.