ARTICULATED vehicle drivers in Ebonyi have decried the high cost of drivers’ licence issued by the state command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

The drivers aired their grievance in Abakaliki during an interactive session with authorities of the FRSC on Tuesday, blaming the development on the inability of most members to procure the licence.

The Chairman of articulated vehicles’ drivers in Ebonyi, Mr Sunday Nwode, said that the development also made the union not to identify drivers that were unsuitable to drive on the roads.

“The FRSC is trying its best to reduce road accidents in the state through its regular sensitisation of drivers but my members can no longer cope with the licences exorbitant cost.

“We pay about N20, 000 to procure the license in the state and most members who operate on higher purchase basis, cannot solve other needs after parting with such huge amount.

“We are also not comfortable with the activities of the Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) in the state who duplicate the duties of the FRSC and make us confused in the process,’’ he said.

The FRSC South-East Zonal Commander, Mr Samuel Obayemi, called for regular interactions between the commission and the drivers in the state to solve the driving licences and other related problems.

“I urge the drivers to obey traffic regulations for the safety of their lives and those of their passengers in spite of their various complaints,’’ he said.

Mrs Stella Uchegbu, the FRSC Ebonyi Sector Commander, noted that the session was convened to sensitise the drivers in the five parks located in Abakaliki on ways of preventing road crashes.

“It will also enable us address complaints from the drivers and generally device means of fostering a healthy relations to achieve set goals.

“We are inspired by the encouragement from our zonal commander and pledge to increase our productivity to ensure the protection of lives on the roads,’’ she said.

Uchegbu decried the involvement of articulated vehicles drivers in most road crashes in the state and said the commission had evolved stringent measures to check such occurrences.

“Most of the drivers drive dangerously, overtake recklessly, drive on wrong road lanes and all these wrong acts lead to crashes on the state’s roads.

“Drivers should operate on stipulated speed limits, always use their vehicles’ indicators when crossing or negotiating bends, use their side-mirrors always and use their indicators to alert other motorists before overtaking.

“You should start using your indicators as from 50 meters distance to negotiate a corner or bend, to avoid road crashes,’’ she said.

She urged the drivers to always imbibe corrections from FRSC officials and not see such as hate or punishments.

“The Federal Government stipulates that the charge for drivers’ licence is N6, 350, paid in the commercial banks but further increment can be due to the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) additions from the VIO.

“The VIO has right to inspect the vehicles as all of us, including the articulated vehicle drivers are partners in the task of ensuring safety on the roads,’’ she said.

The Sector’s Transport Standardisation Officer, Mrs Adaku Uka, however, assured drivers that such meetings would be held quarterly for enhanced cooperation. (NAN)

– Mar. 28, 2018 @ 16:25 GMT |