The head of Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps, Seni Ogunyemi, mentioned that conducting psychiatric tests on traffic offenders, particularly those who violate traffic rules, has contributed to a decrease in accidents in the state.
Ogunyemi explained that instructing errant drivers, especially those who drive against the traffic, to undergo psychiatric evaluations is a corrective action taken to discourage them from repeating the same violation.
According to a statement on Sunday, the TRACE boss expressed this during a visit from the executive members of the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria, Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta Chapter, to his office in Ibara, Abeokuta.
Ogunyemi clarified that these corrective actions, such as imposing fines and implementing other effective strategies, have significantly reduced the number of accidents in the state.
He disclosed that additional initiatives involve the introduction of road Traffic Mayors and Marshals, establishment of TRACE Clubs in different schools to educate young people, and providing capacity-building training for the officers, among other efforts to enhance their professionalism.
Ogunyemi urged the medical personnel to collaborate with and support the agency in its road safety programs to educate the residents of the state.
He noted, “The previous alarming rate of fatalities on our roads has earned us the name 'mortuary state', but now, due to the government's intervention and the implementation of corrective measures by TRACE, we are identified as a 'life-saving state'.
“This entails requiring road traffic violators to pay fines and undergo psychiatric tests, if necessary, to address their excessive behavior. This is not punitive, but a way to rehabilitate them and dissuade them from repeating the same violation”.
In response, the chairman of the association, Dr. Sola Adebisi, praised the conduct and efforts of TRACE officers on the roads and pledged to strengthen the existing relationship with the agency.
Meanwhile, the state chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Mrs. Seun Boye, has appealed for the support of TRACE to ensure the successful hosting of the 2024 Nigeria Public Relations Week in April.
