FRSC Cautions Truck Drivers, Vows To Enforce Rules

FOLLOWING the recent road accident, when a container fell on a vehicle conveying students of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State, killing 14 of them, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has unveiled plans to sensitise truck drivers with a view to avoiding repeat of the sad incident.

After a recent meeting between the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) and the FRSC in Lagos, Assistant Corps Marshal, Nseobong Akpabio, said the Commission would ensure road crashes, especially those involving container-laden trucks, are reduced to the barest.

He stressed that there are rules and regulations guiding truck driving, and that the Commission would enforce them. He said: “The National Road Service Regulations 2013 is there. There is the Federal Highway Law, and the Lagos State Traffic Law 2012.

They are all laws governing operations of vehicles on the highways. The Federal Road Safety Commission has been empowered to implement federal, state and local council laws. “Our patrol teams would commence enforcement on the highways. When we see a truck conveying a container, such would be stopped for inspection.

We would ensure the tyres are in good condition and that the container is properly latched to the truck. “The issue of age also plays a role because I am sure no one would like to employ a driver who is above 60 years or one who is below 18.

A truck is a high capacity vehicle, so we encourage operators to engage mature people that can withstand the challenges on the highway.” Akpabio expressed optimism that the meeting between the FRSC and AMATO would yield positive result and accident involving container-carrying trucks would stop.

AMATO, meanwhile, has urged government to maintain and build better roads in order to reduce accidents. President of the association, Chief Remi Ogungbemi, regretted that many roads in Lagos are in deplorable conditions.

He also called on government to build more tank farms in other parts of the country, saying this will reduce road crashes. According to him, it is only Apapa Tank Farm that serves the entire country, a situation, which he said places huge burden on the roads.