The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has expressed deep concern over the recent spate of road traffic accidents involving tankers and trailers on Nigerian highways.
At a One-Day Stakeholder’s Summit on “Haulage Operations for National Development” in Abuja on Monday, the Corps Marshal of FRSC, Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi, said that from January to June 2015 alone, 1193 vehicles caused road traffic accidents in which 49 were tankers and trailer related, representing 4.11 percent while:
“In 2013, a total of 21,199 vehicles were involved in crashes, in which 1,495 were tankers/trailer related, representing 7.05 %. In 2014, a total of 16,779 vehicles were involved, out of which 998 were tankers/trailer related, representing 5.94%”.
Stakeholders at the Summit also agreed that there should be training and re-training of tanker and trailer drivers, modernization of law enforcement training and re-training and logistics enhancement to ensure more effective discharge of duties stiff, penalties for those who violate traffic rules, standardisation of licensing systems, and the enforcement of the Speed Limiting Device on commercial vehicles in Nigeria. They also stressed on the need for life insurance for all Nigerians for ease of compensation of citizens in case of loss of lives in road crashes.
A call was also made on the Federal Government to ban importation and use of second-hand tyres by vehicle owners in the country. With a view to improving the average age of vehicles on our roads, the stakeholders went further to state that there is a very urgent need for renewal of petroleum tankers and other haulage vehicles in the form of fleet acquisition support through Fleet Acquisition Renewal Scheme in collaboration with financial institutions like the Bank of Industry or the Infrastructure Bank.
In his final submission, the Corps Marshal said the Corps would stand by its policy of continuous consultations with stakeholders and is open to new ideas and suggestions that would ensure safety on Nigerian roads.
The Stakeholders were drawn from the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, Standard Organisation of Nigeria, Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners among other unions.
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This is a right step! I will also advocate for a comprehensive statutory operational framework in other to curb the menace of unscrupulous Drivers and operators in general. We need long-term solutions. Let’s get cracking!
@Wale, Megaload Trucking; Your concern and passion are very much in order. We do hope the relevant authorities will take note of the point you have raised with a view to incorporating same among a host of other initiatives they are considering. Thanks for visiting our space.