By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
The Cross River State government yesterday begun campaign against driving beyond 30 kilometre per hour speed limit within residential areas, or busy market areas; warning motorists to give a listening ear to the campaign or be ready to contend with the law of the land.
National Chairman, Conference of Directors/Chief Road Traffic Officers of the Federation and Director, Vehicle Inspection Officers Cross River State, Engr. Sir Paul Bepeh, disclosed this yesterday during the flag off ceremony of the 6th United Nations, UN, Global Road Safety Week 2021, held in Calabar.
Bepeh warned that henceforth, motorists who drive beyond 30 kilometers per hour speed limit within a residential/market area will have the law to contend with.
He said, “As passengers, you have the right to tell a driver to reduced the speed limit to 30 kilometre per hour.
“As a market woman, you have the right to tell the driver who is over speeding to limit his speed to 30 kilometre per hour.”
He advocated for all hands to be on deck for sustainability of the policy in order to overcome road carnage and ensure that lives are not wasted along our highways.
Other issue which the vehicle inspection officer hammered on was drunk-driving, which warned that the VIO would not hesitate to drag any one found wanting to court should such an individual is found to have taken alcohol before handling the steering.
The Chief Vehicle Inspection Officer maintained that the protection of lives along the major highways should not be limited to the government alone, but should demand concerted effort of all.
Bepeh enumerated causes of road crashes along our highways,apart from over speeding, to include: worn out tyres, poorly maintained vehicles, receiving telephone calls while driving, among others.
He said that apart from other sanctions to be meted to offenders, those who run foul of the law by exceeding the stipulated 30 kilometre per hour speed limit shall have their vehicles impounded and be forced to participate in capacity building exercise for some months with a fine paid to the state government before his or her vehicle can be released to him.
