Barely a month to the commencement of enforcement of Speed Limiting Device in the country, the Federal Road Safety Commission has reiterated its commitment to ensure speed control on the nation’s roads.
Boboye Oyeyemi, the Corps Marshal, made the statement while addressing newsmen on Monday in Abuja.
Oyeyemi was reacting to the death of James Ocholi, the Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, and his wife and son in a road crash on Sunday.
Oyeyemi said the issue of speed was on the front burner and a global issue for all road transport administrators.
He said: “Enforcement of SLD policy is supported by the act that sets up FRSC and for us to attain reduction in road crashes, we need to move on with the enforcement of the policy.
“Speed accounts for over 65 per cent of road crashes in the country, through which lives and property are lost on frequent basis.
“In Nigeria, excessive speed accounts for 50 per cent of road crashes, while loss of control, often caused by excessive speed, accounts for 16.5 per cent of crashes.
“The issue of speed is on the front burner now because speed is a global issue.
“The theme of the 2014 World Remembrance of road crash victims was: Speed Kills.
“As the lead agency on road transport administration in the country, all efforts to curb excessive speed by drivers are very important to us.”
Oyeyemi said enforcement of SLD policy would commence on April 1, adding that accidents involving commercial vehicles, including trucks and tankers, contributed more to road crash losses.
“While the lives or good health cannot be quantified, a tanker cost between N50 to N60 million each, aside the content, so, installation of SLD to avert such losses should be prioritised,” he noted.
The FRSC boss said while the roads are getting better, motorists should note that maximum speed for private vehicles on the highways is 100km/h and 90km/h for dual carriage ways.
Oyeyemi commended road transport unions like NURTW and RTEAN among others for their support, saying everyone should unite to stem losses associated with road crash.
He said the commission had acquired radar guns and alcoholysers to curb the excesses of private motorists before announcement of the enforcement.
On the death of Ocholi, his wife and son, Oyeyemi called for adequate training of convoy drivers at federal level, saying the commission had already trained those under state governments.
He said the commission would work with the office of the Secretary to the Federal Government to train convoy drivers of ministers and other political office holders at the federal level.
He added that the training would commence before the end of the month on defensive driving and conduct on the highways.
Oyeyemi commiserated with President Muhammadu Buhari, the Federal Executive Council, the Ocholi family and the government and people of Kogi State over the death of Ocholi and members of his family.
NAN.
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