By Praise Necherem
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Anambra state has threatened to confiscate impounded rickety vehicles without tangible proof of road worthiness.
The sector commander, Andrew Kumapayi, who stated this on Thursday in a chat with newsmen in his office, said the exercise was part of the ongoing clampdown directives targeted at clearing the nation’s highways of rickety vehicles.
He said such impounded vehicles would only be released to the owners who were able to provide tangible proof that the vehicles would undergo major repairs before plying the roads.
He said, “We’re not releasing any of the impounded vehicles until we see a tangible proof with the mechanic that such vehicles will undergo major repairs before we allow them ply the roads. “It will also be subjected to certification by VIO to ensure the vehicle is roadworthy. If we impound the same vehicle again, the owner should be ready to forgo the vehicle if care is not taken.”
The FRSC boss listed some attributes of rickety vehicles to include mechanical deficiency, worn out tyres, broken windscreen, absence of headlamp and rear lights and other dilapidated conditions.
He added, “Most of these vehicles which are eye-saw to the motoring public, unfortunately are used to convey persons and goods especially in rural areas. Market women use them a lot, exposing them to all kinds of road mishap and other dangers. Another major area we’re beaming our search light on is number plate violation. Numbers that are not visible to other road users, or stainless plates.
“These are common among the Yahoo boys with flashy vehicles. This is against what the law requires and such vehicles will be impounded and the owners made to pay the fines and ensure the number plates are properly fixed.
“It’s also an offence for motorcycle and tricycle operators to put a trailer horn on their motorcycles and tricycles. Defaulters will have their machines impounded and made to pay fine, while the horn would be removed.
“It’s part of our public education we carry out within the metropolis and we’re collaborating with the state traffic management agency and transport ministry to ensure full compliance.
“We’re also checking the alcohol level of some of the drivers. We’re using the disposable alcolizers and the electronic ones. Maximum alcohol level permitted is 0.05 capacity. Anything above is not allowed and the penalty is N10,000 fine.”