We have about 2,530 driver’s licences that are ready for collection, but are unclaimed by the owners in the state, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Akwa Ibom State Command has said.
The Sector Commander in the state, Mr Matthew Olonisaye, revealed this in an interview with newsmen in Uyo on Thursday.
Olonisaye urged members of the public, who were captured and given temporary driver’s licence to come forward and collect their original driver’s licence.
He said: “As at today, we have 2, 530 unclaimed driver’s licences in the state, for reasons which we don’t know. So, we enjoined members of the public, if anyone has applied for driver’s license, we expect such persons to go for the original.
“It is original that shows that you have finished the processes and procedures of obtaining driver’s licence. It is not enough to go to the licencing office for physical capturing, collect the temporary card without having the original.
“It is the original that qualifies you to drive on the road. So, we expect applicants that have been captured to go to the state Board of Internal Revenue Service and collect their original driver’s licence.”
The sector commander said that arrangements have been concluded to embark on aggressive enforcement of driver’s licence in the state.
He warned members of the public to ensure they comply with rules and regulations guiding the operations on the road, stressing that defaulters would be penalised.
“Presently, we are making arrangements with the state Board of Internal Revenue Service to conduct aggressive enforcement of driver’s licences in the state to ensure that everybody that operates any form of automobile on the road is qualified to do so.
“Without a valid driver’s licence, it shows that you are not qualified to operate on the road. It is the licence that gives you the legal right to operate on the road,” he said.
Olonisaye urged drivers and vehicles owners to drive with care during this raining season, adding that frictions between the tyres and the road is reduced when it rains.
He urged drivers and vehicles owners to ensure their wipers were functional to help them improve on visibility when it rains to avoid any unfortunate occurrence.
“We are currently in raining season and driving in raining season requires special condition. So, we expect drivers of automobile to drive reasonably on the road.
“They should not forget that during raining season, the frictions between the tyres and the road is reduced. So, the stopping distance will longer be, and they are expected to reduce their speed to avoid unfortunate occurrence.
“We also expect them to ensure their vehicles are in good conditions, their wipers must be functional.
“Test your wipers in the morning before you leave home not when the rain starts, you begin to have issues with the operations of your wipers.
“Don’t forget that if rain is falling, visibility reduces, so one of the ways of enhancing visibility is through the usage of wipers,” he said.
He said the command has commenced extensive public enlightenment targeted at creating awareness on better road use by the civil servants in the state.
According to him, the enlightenment programme would be taken to respective Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the state to assist the civil servants, due to their tight schedules.
He said that during the programme, civil servants would be taught on understanding the highway code, causes of road crashes and how to prevent them and practical road safety tips for drivers and pedestrians.