To check fire related road traffic crashes across the country, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, has issued a directive for the immediate commencement of a special intervention patrol against carrying inflammable substances like petroleum products.
The directives included massive deployment of patrol operatives on the nation's highways to conduct search and identify vehicles carrying these products; empty the content into the vehicle when sighted and conduct awareness campaign on drivers and passengers about the dangers of carrying petroleum products in vehicles.
A statement issued on Friday by Olusegun Ogungbemide, Corps Commander, Corps Public Education Officer
Federal Road Safety Corps
Headquarters, said the Corps Marshal also directed that unlike the conventional operations, in the course of this intervention patrol, drivers could be prosecuted for compromising the safety of their passengers.
Stressing that no excuse is acceptable for such dastardly act, he said it is to be a civil engagement that targets at ensuring that those products when sighted, are emptied into the fuel tank of the vehicles.
The statement said "You would recall that pursuant to a number of fire related road crashes that occured on the nation's highways in recent times, the Corps Marshal had ordered a thorough investigation with a view to unravel the main cause of the inferno.
"The investigation report revealed that drivers often carry petroleum products while on transit. As such, in the event of a crash, the impact often result in flames leading to heart wrecking fatalities that would have been avoided.
"In order to bring this to a halt, the Corps Marshal has also directed the Public Education Officers nationwide to compliment the intervention patrol with aggressive sensitisation of road users."
He therefore called on passengers to always ensure that they take their safety in their very hands by reporting to FRSC patrol teams or through emergency lines whenever they suspect the vehicle they boarded have inflammable substances in them.
This according to him will help curtail these excesses and enhance the safety of lives and properties as commuters transit from one destination to another.