The Cross River Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has cautioned motorists in the state to desist from violating traffic laws or risk imprisonment.
Innocent Etuk, Sector Commander, issued the warning in Calabar on Monday during a mobile court session held to prosecute drivers for various traffic offences along the Calabar–Odukpani road.
Etuk recalled that on assumption of office, he made it clear that he was ready to send many drivers to jail unless they repented.
The court, presided by a Magistrate Mr Eno Iyamba, has arraigned at least 49 traffic offenders, convicted 46, and discharged three. A total of 114 offences were recorded with Drivers Licence Violation (DLV), Seatbelt Use Violation (SUV), Attempting Corrupt Marshal on duty (ACS) as the most prevalence.
Speaking further, the sector commander said the exercise was the Corps’ strategic intervention to cut down the excesses of the motoring public in terms of traffic infractions.
According to him, today is another mobile court sitting to fulfil our mandate to bring down road crashes; at least once or twice every month, we carryout these intervention patrols to achieve our mandate.
“It is sad that despite our advocacies through the media and others, traffic infractions are not abating.
’’Last month, many drivers were convicted for attempting to corrupt our men and this month, it is still on the increase.
“In the month of September, we did not convict any driver for Dangerous Driving (DGD) but this month, we have already convicted one and it took our synergy with sister agencies to get this done,” he said.
Etuk noted that as the “ember” months unfolded, the Corps had identified flash points in the state where it normally encountered challenges.
According to him, the flash points are Odukpani Junction, Okurikang, Ikom Four Corner and Ogoja towards Vandekia.
He said that the command planned to have a camp around Okurikang which would be on and effective till late night to enable the Corps reduce response time in the case of any emergency.
(NAN)
