Amaechi calls for stiffer punishment for traffic offenders

The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, has solicited for the review of the highway codes to guarantee stiffer punishment for road traffic offenders.

Amaechi announced this at the Easter mega rally planned by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Thursday in Abuja.

The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi

He declared that the review would facilitate the reduction of road traffic accident and killings on the road.

The minister added that the review of the highway codes would also help control the issue of road traffic accident in the nation.

He declared that there was the necessity for road users to know about the stiffer punishment attached to driving recklessly on the main road.

Amaechi stated that education, information and enforcement were key ways of informing the citizens, stating that a mega rally would assist road users to comprehend the consequences of driving carelessly.

He further said that the ministry and the FRSC would collaborate to guarantee that the law was reviewed and takes effect, thus ensuring that lives and properties would be secured.

As indicated by him, if a driver realises that he will go to prison if he drives carelessly, he will take caution.

He said, “It will be easy for the drivers to understand this when you tell them and that is why we are here today to ensure that we have a safe celebration now and beyond.

“A situation whereby the law is reviewed and categorically states that when you overload your vehicle,  drunk drive or drive recklessly, you will be jailed, then, every driver will be conscious.

“Most accident you see today are not caused by bad roads, but the recklessness of the drivers on the roads.

“I want to urge all drivers to be cautious of not just them, but the passengers they carry.  Safety is paramount.”