Lagos – Stakeholders in the transport sector on Thursday reaffirmed their support for the installation of the Speed Limiting Device (SLD) in vehicles which is being introduced by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
They gave their support at a Stakeholders’ Forum organised by the FRSC on the subject: “Implementation of Speed Limiting Device in Nigeria,” in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was part of the line up of activities by the corps before the enforcement of the device in private and public vehicles.
In his view, Alhaji Najeem Yasin, the National President, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), said that the union was not against the device meant to safeguard the lives of Nigerians.
Yasin, who was represented by Mr Suleiman Dansaki, the NURTW’s National Coordinator (Heavy Trucks), described the initiative as “laudable and life saving’’.
“We know very well the danger of speeding. It is very important to save the lives of our drivers and passengers. I hope it will not end with commercial operators at motor parks, but be extended to private vehicles as well.
The NURTW boss, however, said that government had about 90 per cent share in the causative factor of road traffic crashes because of the poor condition of the roads.
Mr Olalekan Amusan, the National Publicity Secretary, Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), also commended the initiative.
“Our Organisation is in support of this and we will do everything possible to ensure its success. No amount is too much to sacrifice to save our lives and our passengers,” he said.
Mr Chuka Akukwe, Head, Land Transport Services, Shell Petroleum Development Company, said, “We have seen a tremendous reduction in road traffic accidents, and the security exposure of our drivers with the speed monitoring system.
“It has also reduced cost of maintenance, it has increased productivity. It helps us to have accurate time record and tracking of our vehicles. It has improved on our drivers behavior in Shell. It helps.
“We are in full alignment with the FRSC on this. We, as an organisation are in support of what the FRSC is doing, it has worked for us and we believe it can work for other organizations as well.”
Akukwe, who noted that the speed limiter had been a very effective tool in the improvement of Shell drivers, said that the company reduced accidents to zero level in 2015.
Mr Aloga Ogbojo, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), who described the initiative as ‘a blessing’ urged the FRSC to ensure that such a stakeholders’ meeting is held in all the geo-political zones.
“As an association, we support it, we key into it and we will see to its success,” the scribe said.
Ogbojo, who said that the device would stop crashes from happening, urged the corps to address the high cost of the device for operators who have a fleet of vehicles.
Earlier, Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State said that the state government would partner with the corps to see that the initiative succeeds.
Ambode, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Transport, Mr Anofiu Elegushi, said that the device had safety, costs and environmental benefits.
He said, “It (the Speed Limiting Device) must be embraced by all stakeholders. The benefits include safety, costs and the environment. We want obedience to traffic rules and safety laws.
“We will also continue to strengthen our drivers training institutes in training and re-training of drivers, to reduce road crashes.
“The Lagos State Government will partner with the FRSC to see that this initiative succeeds. We will modernise our road network to conform to the international safety standards, as well as sensitisatising road users on safety precautions.
In his presentation, the Corp Marshal of the FRSC, Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, said that speed remained the key factor for road traffic injuries, stressing that about 50 per cent of losses on the roads were caused by speed.
Oyeyemi, who was represented by the Deputy Corps Marshal, Mr Charles Theophilus, said, “The higher the speed, the higher the risk of a crash. Speed is responsible for a high proportion of casualties on our roads.”
The corps marshal, who called for a change in the behavioural attitude of drivers to stop the carnage on the roads, urged stakeholders to embrace the device.
NAN reports that the event was attended by many fleet operators and other stakeholders in the transport sector. (NAN)