‘Operation show your Driver’s Licence’: FRSC arrests 432 vehicles in Lagos

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says it has arrested 432 various types of vehicles for driving without driver licence within two weeks in Lagos State.

The Sector Commander of FRSC in Lagos, Corps Commander Olusegun Ogungbemide, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday.

He fielded questions after the completion of Phase 11 of the Operation Show Your Driver’s Licence.

NAN reports that the operation commenced on Oct. 4 through Oct. 10 simultaneously in all the units in Lagos State.

The sector commander said that the command had arrested 432 various types of vehicles along with the drivers since the commencement of the operation.

Ogungbemide said that 252 of the arrested vehicles were commercial vehicles, while 180 were vehicles from private drivers.

He said that some of the drivers who claimed to have forgotten their driver’s licence at home and offices were given opportunity to present their driver’s licences.

The sector however noted that majority of the culprits cannot still produce their driving licences even when given the opportunity to present them.

Ogungbemide decried the high rate of permanent driver’s licence unpicked in all driver’s licencing centres across the state.

He said that many of the drivers had been sent to mobile courts to serve as deterrent to others who were fond of driving without a driver’s licence.

Ogungbemide said that the first and second phase of the special patrol, tagged “Operation show your driver’s licence”, showed that some motorists still drive without their valid driver’s licence while some don’t have at all.

He said that the recent increase in vehicular movement because of “Ember months”, there was need for all drivers to be handy with their licences and valid vehicle papers as the command would conduct the operation till the end of the year.

He explained that all vehicles impounded would not be released until they show evidence of having the documents.

“According to the National Road Traffic Regulations (NRTR) 2021, Regulation 67(1): ‘Any person driving a vehicle on any public Road shall be in possession of an original driver’s licence, but where the person is in possession of the photocopy of the original driver’s licence, he shall within 24 hours produce the original driver’s licence to the appropriate authority if demanded’.

“Regulation (2) also stated that: ‘Any person who contravenes the provision of regulation 67(1) of these regulation commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine of N10,000 or to a term of one year imprisonment or to both’.”

For motorists who drive without vehicle licence, he stressed that Regulation 67(3) states that: “Any person driving a vehicle must be in possession of at least the photocopy of the vehicle particulars, and the original shall be provided to the appropriate authority within 24 hours, if demanded”.

Regulation 67(4) says: “Any person who contravenes the provisions of regulation 67(3) commits an offence and shall be liable to a fine of N3,000 or 6 months imprisonment or to both,” Ogunbemide said.

He therefore cautioned road users to ensure they obtained all necessary documents that qualified them to use the road.

He added that the situation where drivers of vehicles, tricycles and bike riders ply the road without licence was no more acceptable.

The sector commander said that the operation was designed to curb crashes and reduce fatalities to the barest minimum.

Ogungbemide, however, urged all motorists to maintain safe speed and avoid night travels to enjoy good road experience.