The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says it will henceforth conduct compulsory eye test for drivers to ascertain their quality of vision.
This, the Corps said, would help to reduce Road Traffic Crashes (RTC) in 2020.
The FRSC Corps Marshal, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, made the disclosure at the corps operators’ meeting with Zonal Commanding officers (ZCO) in Abuja on Tuesday.
He observed that poor vision was one of the major causes of road crashes globally saying the corps would ensure that only drivers with excellent vision drive on Nigerian roads to check avoidable accidents.
Oyeyemi noted that the statistics of RTC in 2019 was not encouraging even as he acknowledged that the Corps needed to restrategise to ensure fewer accidents in 2020 and beyond.
“The issue of vision for drivers is a global concern now from the preparatory conference held a fortnight ago in Washington DC.
“This issue is not only a Nigerian problem as it has become an international issue happening even in the developed countries.
“When we conducted vision test randomly on the highway last year during the end of the year operation Zero tolerance special intervention patrol, 30 per cent of the drivers failed it.
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“As you get older, the sight deteriorates in terms of accuracy of objects ahead of you; and this means failure to carry out the appropriate vision test for drivers may cause more harm than good.
“So, we would be partnering with Nigeria Optometrists Association (NOA) to ensure that commercial and articulated drivers’ inability to use glasses despite their poor vision would be corrected,” he said.
The Corps Marshal reiterated the danger of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol saying that was a serious offence that would be strictly addressed.
He also noted that drugs were more dangerous and stronger than alcohol.
He said that the FRSC would strengthen its partnership with the National Union of Road Transport workers (NURTW) and deploy various devices used in testing drivers to various parks across the country.
“Zonal commanding officers are enjoined to ensure close supervision of commands under their purview as you guide towards achieving the 2020 corporate strategic goals,” he added.
Oyeyemi urged motorists in the county to accord the Corps’ personnel maximum courtesy and cooperation in the discharge of their duties warning that the Corps would ensure that the full weight of the law was visited on anyone who assaulted its personnel.
