As part of measures to reduce the rate of deaths on the nation�s highways, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) is now to clamp down on motorcyclists and their passengers who do not wear crash helmets nation-wide.
The commission said severe penalty will be visisted on motorcyclists found guilty of not wearing the helmets whether the motorcycle is operated for private or commercial purposes.
Speaking with newsmen at the weekend in Abuja, Sector Commander of the Commission in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Jonas Agwu, said directives have been given to officers and men of the commission nation-wide by the Corps Marshall, Osita Chidioka, to clamp down on violators of the rule on crash helmet.
According to him, “the position of the FRSC is very clear; the FRSC Act specifically mandated us to handle matters of safety and as government agency on safety in Nigeria, we cannot talk about safety while ignoring the issue of motorcycle operators to ensure their safety.
“That is why the National Traffic Regulation 2004, section 41, was very explicit when it said that both the rider and the passenger shall wear safety helmet while on motion.
“It did not say the rider and the passenger for private or commercial operators but said every other person that is on motorcycle that is on motion”, he added.
Agwu maintained that “whether it is for a commercial purpose, private purpose or for courier service, or just for pleasure, the law says for safety it is the practice world-wide that you wear your crash helmet.
“I recall that we have at various forums with the operators done so many campaigns on this issue, but henceforth we would clamp down on violators to show that we are serious on the issue”.