By Suleiman Shehu
Ibadan – Corps Marshal, Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, has called on the public to support the use of speed limiting device in spite of the prevailing current economic situation in the country.
He made the call on Friday in Ibadan during a stakeholders’ forum on speed limiting device enforcement in Nigeria organised by the Oyo state command of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).
Oyeyemi, who was represented by Assistant Corps Marshal, Mr Wale Olaniran, said that the commission could not achieve success in its activities without the support of the public.
He said that research conducted by the commission indicated that over-speeding was the major cause of road crashes in Nigeria, adding, therefore, that the use speed limiting device would help to reduce road crashes.
“ The speed limiting device when it is installed, no matter how much the driver intends to accelerate, the vehicle will not move more than the calibrated speed limit.
“ We cannot stand and watch people lose their lives and destroy property as a result of over-speeding.
“ This is not good for the country because most age brackets usually involved in the accident are productive age group.
` `If this continues, the future of the country would be at stake,’’ the FRSC boss said.
Earlier, FRSC Commander in the state, Mr Yusuf Salami, had said that the commission had embarked on sensitization of stakeholders, including employees and employers in road transport sector, on the importance of the speed device.
Salami said that the conduct of the driver in charge of a vehicle determined fatality of accidents when they occurred.
He assured the public that the commission would continue on its mandate of ensuring safety of road users.
He urged motorists plying the roads “in this sallah festival to obey all the traffic rules and regulation in order to arrive at their destinations safely’’.
Salami said that the command had deployed enough personnel to monitor the roads and check traffic and motorists during the celebration.
In his remarks, Mr Taiwo Adesanya, Deputy Chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the state, said that the union was ready to accept the use of the speed limiting device.
Adesanya said that the essence of the device was to save the lives of drivers and passengers, adding that the forum had provided them the opportunity to know the importance of the device.