THE Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says it would compel commercial vehicle drivers to install speed-limiting devices to curb road traffic accidents, caused by increased commuter activities during the upcoming yuletide season.
The Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, said the Commission would enforce the installation of the speed-limiting devices and that operatives of the FRSC would clamp down on drivers, who exceeded the recommended speed limits.
“Motorists speed, especially during the Christmas season when commercial drivers are bent on making brisk business. Speeding is the major problem on the roads and that is where the campaign lies for this year. We need to really focus on speeding by compelling all commercial vehicles to install the speed-limiting device. We are in the ember months’ campaign period. By the end of this month and from Dec. 1, we’ll move to the end of year campaign,” he said
On how the #EndSARS protests affected the corps, Oyeyemi said that the corps couldn’t work optimally during the crisis. He explained that the agency couldn’t work at its optimal level because its 27 patrol vehicles were burnt, while 14 others were vandalised.
Oyeyemi said that the company had started focusing on priority areas as directed by the secretary to the government of the federation.
He described this year as difficult for the FRSC because of various challenges, including the coronavirus pandemic and the #EndSARS crisis.
“First, we had a-four-month lockdown. There was restriction. 2020 data cannot be used for any analysis. But one thing we have observed is that since the inter-state movement was lifted, there has been a slight increase in road traffic crashes, especially as it concerns the mini buses, which are the commercial vehicles,” he said.
Oyeyemi said that the management of the company had met with key operators in the downstream sector and the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners to discuss issues of safety guidelines and compliance.
The corps marshal said the FRSC had established commands in local government areas nationwide that had none as part of preparations for the yuletide.
“There are some corridors before that are not noted for road traffic crashes, especially in the North-West. We are now recording traffic crashes. That led us to the establishment of FRSC presence in all the local governments except the riverine area because we are not marine safety. So, with this, we have covered the whole country now. That means, for this year’s end of the year patrol, we are going to do more in terms of advocacy, education and enlightenment,” he said.
Oyeyemi commended the Federal Government for the ongoing road rehabilitation and reconstruction work across the country. “Government must be commended. Immediately the dry season set in, all contractors have returned to work on various road projects. That means we are going to witness improved road network from North-West to North-East to North-Central to South-West to South-East to South-South. I can testify to this because I have been on the road for the past three weeks now. A lot of rehabilitation and reconstruction project is going on,” he said.
According to him, the FRSC is collaborating with the federal ministry of works to ensure that highways are properly manned and traffic rules and regulations obeyed.