If road accidents would be prevented to make roads accident-free, road users must change their attitude towards state and national traffic rules, the General Manager of Ekiti State Traffic Management (EKSTMA) has said.The General Manager, Hon. Charles Fasuba who spoke at the weekend said road users regardless of their status must adhere strictly to traffic rules in order to prevent accidents; adding that some road users deliberately flout traffic rules because they believe they are above the law.
Fasuba lamented that some of the defaulters are law enforcement officials who would beat up men of the State Traffic Management Agency whenever they make attempt to arrest them for their disregard for the laws they were recruitted to uphold.
“We are not to humiliate anybody but we are only partners in progress. We have to change our attitude, we must learn how to respect the law. Sometimes some motorists, not even commercial drivers, will park on the main road to buy things fro road side hawkers.These things are not good and they can cause accidents. We must do everything possible to prevent accidents from occurring on our roads.
And our law enforcement agencies in the State, particularly the police, I mean the low ranking ones, not the superiors.The fact that they are policemen does not make them above the law. The superior officers have been very cooperating and have never done anything that challenged our authority but the low ranking policemen have been giving us problems. At times, they will beat up our officers,” Fasuba said.
The EKSTMA Boss commended the men of the Federal Road Safety Corp and various sectors of stakeholders in the State for cooperating with the Agency in ensuring more safety on Ekiti roads.
Fasuba added that the sensitization meeting which was held with market women, transport unions and other groups have paid off especially as the once crowded Old Garage-Oja Oba road which hawkers had turned to stalls has been decongested.
He said if the traffic was properly decongested, people will not have problems keeping their appointments in time.
The General Manager who commended the Fayemi-led administration for the support given to the Agency especially as it has received two towing vehicles to carry out its duties solicited more assistance in form of funding and patrol vehicles.
Fasuba added that EKSTMA has up till last weekend generated no less that Two Million Six hundred thousand Naira since its inception in March this year.
Last modified: May 15, 2012