The Lagos State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has announced an expansion of its efforts to maintain road safety throughout the year, extending beyond the typical yuletide season.
The initiative, part of the ongoing “Operation Zero Tolerance Programme,” aims to reduce traffic accidents and ensure the free flow of traffic across Lagos’ major routes.
In an interview on Saturday, the Lagos State Public Enlightenment Officer for the FRSC, Route Commander Elizabeth Jayeola, discussed the core objectives of the programme and the strategies being employed to enhance road safety in the state. She emphasized that the campaign would continue at least until after the school resumption period. “We are still within the ‘Operation Zero Tolerance Programme’ till after the school resumption. We are doing our bit to ensure the free flow of traffic on every corridor Lagos-Ibadan, Apapa-Badagry, Lekki-Epe,” Jayeola stated.
Key to the success of this initiative is the ongoing public enlightenment campaigns. These campaigns are aimed at various groups within the community, with outreach programs taking place in churches, parks, mosques, and soon, schools. “We’ll start schools as soon as they resume back so we can continue catching them young,” Jayeola added, highlighting the importance of educating the younger generation on the critical need for road safety.
While enforcement is a significant component of the initiative, with fines being issued to traffic offenders, the FRSC places equal importance on education and fostering long-term behavioral changes in drivers. Jayeola emphasized that, “Apart from booking them accordingly, we also enlighten them to form a behavioural change in them.” This approach aims to instill a deeper understanding of responsible driving that goes beyond penalties.
Furthermore, Jayeola explained that offenders displaying particularly hazardous driving behaviors are required to undergo psychological evaluations. “No, booking is not the only way to put them to books. Education is part of what we use; also, some recalcitrants among them are made to go for psychological tests. It depends on their behaviour on the roads,” she clarified. This initiative is designed to address the root causes of unsafe driving, ensuring that drivers are fit to be on the road.
Some of the unsafe driving practices the FRSC is targeting include the use of mobile phones while driving, failure to wear seatbelts, wrongful overtaking, and speeding actions that are often indicative of poor judgment and a lack of responsibility toward personal and public safety. “It is widely known that engaging in unsafe driving behaviours… reflects a disregard for personal safety and the safety of others on the road,” Jayeola remarked.
To mitigate these behaviors, offenders are referred to medical facilities for psychological evaluations. “Offenders are typically required to undergo psychological evaluation at approved hospitals,” Jayeola explained. The goal is to ensure that drivers are emotionally and mentally fit to operate vehicles, thereby reducing the risk of accidents and improving safety for everyone on the road. After the evaluation, those who are deemed fit to drive are required to participate in a mandatory safety education program to reinforce safe driving habits.
This dual approach comprising both corrective and preventive measures is designed to not only address existing issues but also ensure long-term compliance with traffic laws. “This approach emphasises both corrective and preventive measures to promote long-term compliance and ensure safer roads for all users,” Jayeola concluded.
Through the “Operation Zero Tolerance Programme,” the FRSC Lagos is reinforcing its commitment to reducing road accidents and instilling a culture of safe driving in the state. By focusing on education, behavioral change, and enforcement, the FRSC aims to make Lagos roads safer for all.
