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FRSC advises motorists to exercise caution when overtaking articulated vehicles

FRSC advises motorists to exercise caution when overtaking articulated vehicles

NAN-DS-2
Caution
By Temitope Salami
Sagamu (Ogun), Dec. 7, 2017 (NAN) Mr Clement Oladele, the Ogun Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), has advised motorists to exercise utmost caution when overtaking articulated vehicles to reduce road accidents, especially during the yuletide.

Oladele gave the advice at the launching of the 2017 FRSC Ember Months’ campaign on Thursday in Sagamu, Ogun.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the campaign has as its theme: “Right to Life on the Highway, Not Negotiable’’.

He stressed the need to enlighten road users on their safety during the period, which he described as the busiest during the year as more people traveled to observe the Christmas and New Year holidays.

“These vehicles are special vehicles. Sometimes we assume they can see us, but rather, most times, they don’t.

“If you drive 10 metres behind an articulated vehicle, I can bet you that the vehicle does not have you in its visual range with the way the mirrors are arranged.

“Even when driving ahead, you must give a distance of about six metres for the driver of the truck to properly see you.

“Caution must, therefore, be taken while overtaking such vehicles as you must ensure you have enough stretch for a successful manoeuvre, else the result is a crash.

“The closer to the head of the truck that you are, the lesser the chance you are seen by the driver.

“Common sense should prevail and motorists must take note of these blind spots so as not to be overrun by the truck,” he said.

The sector commander also implored truck drivers to always inspect their vehicles before embarking on any journey to avoid such vehicles breaking down and obstructing traffic.

The FRSC Sagamu Unit Commander, Mohammed Abdullahi, said the Corps would do all it could to ensure the safety of all during the period.

Abdullahi urged drivers to adhere to traffic regulations.

He said that broken down vehicles along the major corridors of the command would be promptly removed to prevent traffic gridlocks.

The unit commander said the Corps recorded 33 deaths in Sagamu axis alone, between January and November. (NAN)
TDS/MAS/AMY

Edited by Moses Solanke/Abdullahi Yusuf
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General news

RTEAN urges FRSC to extend speed limiter enforcement to private motorists

NAN-H-34
Union
By Kazeem Akande,
Lagos, Nov. 22, 2017 (NAN) The Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) has urged the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to extend the enforcement of the use of speed limiters to private motorists during Christmas.

It also said that the enforcement of the use of breathalyzers should cover not just commercial motorists but private drivers as well.

The Chairman of the Lagos chapter of the association, Alhaji Musa Muhammed, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.

Muhammed urged the corps to begin the enforcement of the use of the speed limiters with owners of private vehicles.

“The union has professional drivers who have valid driver’s licences.

“This issue of speed limiters should also apply to private vehicle owners because we ply the same roads.

“Some of the private car owners are not professional drivers; a majority of them learn to drive on their estates within a week.

“After that, they want to embark on long journeys.

“FRSC should exempt only government vehicles and that of law enforcement agencies,” Muhammed said.

The RTEAN chairman appealed to the corps to review the speed limiter policy as it could compromise the security of the lives of especially commercial drivers and passengers.

“Some of our members have been chased by armed robbers on the highways.

“The stories would have been different if both the commercial vehicles and the cars being used by the armed robbers had speed limiters.

“We welcome the development (use of speed limiters), but we want all motorists to mount the device on their vehicles for safety reasons to avoid giving undue advantages to a segment of the motoring public especially during the festive period,” he said.

Mr Hyginus Omeje, the Lagos State FRSC Sector Commander, had said that the enforcement of the speed limiters would soon be extended to private vehicles.

Omeje said that commercial vehicles were targeted first because of the high number of passengers being transported in such vehicles.

“We want to get the policy right first from the commercial vehicles and freight operators which involves many passengers.

“Any crash that happens to these commercial vehicles can have multiple effects because it involves many people who represent families.

“That is why we want to establish the policy first in that sector.

“We will later make it to cover private vehicles on the road to curb recklessness on the expressways,” he said. (NAN)
AKA/BOLA/YEE
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Edited by Bola Akingbehin/Emmanuel Yashim

General news

Apapa gridlock: FRSC suggests holding bays as permanent solutions

NAN-H-11
Gridlock
Lagos, Oct. 22, 2017 (NAN) The Lagos State Sector Command, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says a permanent solution to the Apapa gridlock is the establishment of holding bays to accommodate trucks and articulated vehicles before loading.

The Sector Commander, Mr Hyginus Omeje, who said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos, added that this would put an end to the perennial gridlock.

He said that all owners of tank farms should provide facilities that would accommodate trucks coming into their facilities to load.

“I think the traffic congestion problem in Apapa will be solved permanently if holding bays can be established to take trucks coming in to load.

“The stakeholders with owners of tank farms should begin to pay attention to having a holding bay that can contain some trucks before being called in to load,’’ he said.

Omeje said that government was trying to address the issue by bringing private investors to put up the facilities for the benefit of the residents.

He said that this was a fundamental issue that was needed to allow free flow of traffic within the corridor.

“We can have the private sectors coming up with the parks that some of the trucks can easily move in and wait for loading instead of parking along the streets in Apapa, thereby causing traffic.

“Through the process, the next truck to load in the tank farm will be called through electronic call-up system. This method will reduce the gridlock,’’ he said.

According to Omeje, the FRSC has partnered the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to inspect all trucks coming into the port for business.

“We have had various meetings with the stakeholders, registered operators and NPA and we told them that it will not be business as usual if their trucks are not roadworthy.

“Beside that, some of the articulated vehicles are overloaded, thereby causing traffic along the road.

“We want to ensure that our road transport safety standard schemes are implemented at the ports for every truck coming in to load,‘’ he said.

Mr Daniel Adewa, a businessman in Apapa, told NAN that the bad roads within the area posed a great challenge to business operations and logistics.

Adewa appealed to the Federal Government to be proactive in fixing the roads as many businesses were suffering as a result of the gridlock. (NAN)
AKA/ANU/AJA/IS
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Edited by Adeleye Ajayi/Ismail Abdulaziz

General news

FRSC sets up task force on Apapa gridlock

NAN-H-71
Gridlock
By Temitope Salami
Ijebu-Ode (Ogun), Sept. 26, 2017 (NAN) The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC)  said  on Tuesday that  it had constituted a task force to resolve the incessant gridlock  in the Apapa area of Lagos State.

The Ogun FRSC Public Education Officer (PEO), Florence Okpe, disclosed this in a statement she issued on Tuesday in Ijebu-Ode.

She  said the task force was set up to support the Lagos State Government’s effort in containing the Apapa traffic situation.

“In continuation of efforts to ameliorate the Apapa gridlock, the FRSC Ogun State Sector Commander, Corps Commander Clement Oladele,  met with expanded stakeholders at Ogere.

“In attendance were representatives of security operatives, the Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba community leaders and the Dangote Group.

“Others were the Petroleum and Tanker Drivers’ Union   of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers  and Independent Marketers and Road Transport Associations.

“The task force is constituted to meet weekly till a permanent solution is reached concerning the Apapa gridlocks,” the  PEO said.

She said further that the FRSC had  asked  private park owners at Ogere in Ogun to avail their facilities to accommodate tankers and trucks going into Lagos to ease the congestion.

“Meanwhile,  the enlarged stakeholders, comprising representatives of the Lagos and Ogun State Governments’ would meet quarterly on forging cordial relationship,” the  PEO also said.

The News Agency of  Nigeria(NAN) recalls that stakeholders comprising traffic authorities, transport unions and port users on Friday gave the trucks and tankers parking indiscriminately 48 hours to vacate Lagos roads.

Similarly, the Lagos State Government also on Friday directed   articulated vehicles  to keep away from Lagos roads until the resolution of the traffic logjam. (NAN)
TDS/DO/OJO
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(Edited by David Onilede/Mufutau Ojo)

Defence/Security

Ijebu-Igbo tragedy: FRSC warns against mob action

NAN-H-7
Warning
By Temitope Salami
Ijebu-Ode (Ogun), Sept. 2, 2017 (NAN) Following Friday’s  attack on security operatives at the scene of a fatal accident in Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun,  the Federal Road Safety Commission  (FRSC) has warned against mob action.

Mr Adebola Olotu, the FRSC Deputy Route Commander and Operations Officer, Ago-Iwoye Outpost,  gave the warning  in a telephone interview  with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun,  on Saturday.

Olotu said  the resort to  mob action  when a truck driver lost control of his vehicle and rammed into Muslim worshippers during the  Eid prayer  in Ijebu-Igbo  was uncalled for.

NAN reports that two male Muslim worshipers were killed  following the crash of  the truck  which was loaded with logs.

A policeman identified as Joseph Adejuwon  was also killed by the  mob  which  went on rampage  after the  crash, preventing  rescue efforts by security operatives.

Olotu explained that the casualty count in the incident  would have been avoided  had the mob  allowed  a  timely rescue of the victims.

He called for restraint on the part  of Nigerians who resort to mob action  in dire situations, saying  this was  counterproductive.

“The act of jungle justice as a way of reacting to cases of suspected robbery and manslaughter incidents in the event of road traffic crashes should be completely shunned.

“Jungle justice is barbaric and it is not healthy for any civilised society.

“The earlier we discourage this act  that encourages  total disregard for  the rule of law, the better for the Nigerian  civil system.

“Two wrongs they say don’t make a right, not now, not ever. At least every criminal before the law court is innocent until proven guilty.

“With the increasing rate of jungle justice, it is feared that if not nipped in the bud,  people will no longer have regard for  sanctity of human lives.

“Nigerians should allow the law enforcement agents to carry out  their duties in the event of criminal acts or road traffic crashes.

“Jungle justice would not stop crimes and neither will it prevent road crashes from occurring.
“The more you deny officials from promptly responding to a crash or crime situation the more danger  you expose victims to,” Olotu said.

It will be recalled that the Lagos State Police Command recently arrested five persons for their alleged involvement in lynching two suspected ritualists  in Mushin area.(NAN)
TDS/OJO
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(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)

General news

Gridlocks: Tankers, trucks weakening Lagos bridges — FRSC warns

Gridlocks: Tankers, trucks weakening Lagos bridges — FRSC warns
NAN-H-16
Trucks
By Kazeem Akande/Augusta Uchediunor
Lagos, July 19, 2017 (NAN) The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Wednesday warned that the gridlocks created by trucks and articulated vehicles on bridges in Lagos were dangerous and had damaging effects.
Mr Hyginus Omeje, the Lagos State Sector Commander of the FRSC, made the remark in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
Omeje spoke against the backdrop of the recurring gridlock on the Apapa Road bridge taking traffic to the tank farms in the area.
“ We are sitting on a keg of gun powder because the bridges are weakening on a daily basis as tankers, trucks and articulated vehicles are parked on top of them, due to traffic congestion.
“ When these vehicles are stationary on the bridges for a long time, they have a negative impact, including deterioration, bridge-fatigue, damage or even collapse; moreover, there is no money anywhere now to build these kind of solid bridges again.
“The Ijora, Eko, Carter and Third Mainland bridges are expensive projects that require huge capital to execute.
“So, it is urgent that we do whatever we need to do, to preserve these bridges, so as to make them last longer.’’

The sector commander said that the primary mandate of the corps was to ensure that all routes were safe for motorists.
According to him, the lingering gridlocks in Apapa are as a result of many factors.
“The issue of Apapa traffic congestion is multi-faceted; you cannot address the gridlocks in the area without addressing the state of the roads.
“These gridlocks cannot be controlled without proper road rehabilitation in the area.
“There is need to speedily work on the road network there, as well as the drains,’’ he said.
Omeje, however, said that efforts were underway to rehabilitate the roads.
“Some weeks ago, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with three companies that are willing to put the Port Access Roads in Apapa in good shape.
“We are talking of the Dangote Group, the Flour Mills and the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA); they are coming together to take up the rehabilitation of the roads from the Police Area `B’ Command, the former Nigeria Airways building and Eleganza, into Apapa.
“They want to rehabilitate those segments of the road network in Apapa, as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR),’’ Omeje said.
The FRSC boss added that the corps had also commenced a special traffic control exercise in Apapa, to curb the lingering traffic challenges in the area. (NAN)
AKA/ANU/VIV/PIO
=================
(Editing by Vivian Ihechu/Idonije Obakhedo

General news

Truck crashes: FRSC arrests, prosecutes drivers for moving unlatched containers on highways

 

NAN-H-29
FRSC
By Kazeem Akande

Lagos, July 16, 2017 (NAN) The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Sunday said it had prosecuted 10 truck drivers  for driving unlatched articulated vehicles on Lagos highways during the month.

Mr Hyginus Omeje, the Lagos State Sector Commander of FRSC, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that these were among the 52 truck drivers arrested by FRSC officials for various traffic offences.

Omeje said that they were prosecuted at the Lagos State Mobile Court following rampant cases of crashes recorded on the highways resulting from unlatched containers.

He said that the FRSC would intensify arrests and prosecutions of trucks found to be driving unlatched containers on the highways across the state.

According to Omeje; on July 13, the corps arrested 23 traffic offenders and all were prosecuted by the Lagos State Mobile Court.

“Three out of the 23 cases were on unlatched containers.

“Earlier on July 11 when we began to focus extensively on the activities of the operators alongside the special mobile court operations, 29 traffic offenders were arrested.

“ Seven out of the  29 cases were as a result of unlatched containers; and four out of that seven were prosecuted,’’ he said.

Omeje also warned motorists to avoid contending the roads with trucks and articulated vehicles.

“The FRSC is still committed to ensuring the safety of lives and properties on our roads.

“In recent times, there have been recurrent cases of containers falling from trucks while in motion, thereby, causing accidents and loss of lives.

“Consequently, we have started a special operation targeted at monitoring latched and unlatched containers again.

“You will recall that throughout 2016, we had a similar operation- “Operation Scorpion’’, to address this issue of latched and unlatched containers.

“ During that period, cases of unlatched containers constituting hazards reduced but it is like it is coming up again.’’

He said: “ On Tuesday July 11, we commenced the special operation that will focus extensively on the activities of these operators; we also started special mobile court operations.

“Meanwhile, we have had a series of engagements with stakeholders.

“We have also met with the unions of these operators of trucks – the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) and Association of Corporate Fleet Operators, to ensure their members adhere to safety standards.

“One of these safety standards is to ensure that when these trucks are loaded, they twist the lock underneath.

“As long as that twist is locked, if the truck wants to have a crash, then, the truck will have to fall as a whole and not the container slipping off.’’

The sector commander urged all road users to adhere traffic rules and regulations.

“Accident will not inform anybody before its occurrence, so drivers must be very careful while on the road.

“Drivers should also be vigilant before and while overtaking trucks and articulated vehicles.

“Truck operators should ensure that their drivers are properly trained and fit to do the job; also, they should ensure that their vehicles are in good conditions.

“These will go a long way in ensuring that we record minimal road crashes that result from unlatched containers,’’ Omeje said. (NAN)

AKA/VIV/PAD

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Editing by Vivian Ihechu/Peter Dada

 

General news

FRSC re-strategises to curb crashes along highways-Official

NAN-H-72
Safety
By Kazeem Akande
Lagos, July 6, 2017, (NAN) The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says it has developed fresh plans to curb road accidents on the nation’s highways.

Mr Shehu Zaki, the Federal road Safety Corps Zonal Commander in Charge of Zone 2, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Thursday in Lagos.

The zone comprises Lagos and Ogun states.

According to him, the new strategy to ensure road safety management is made under contemporary operational system.

Zaki, who is an Assistant Corps Marshal, said: “We have started another monumental stride in our corporate aspirations for excellence, where clear visions were conceived.

“The zone has strategic frameworks and associated directive to make progress in road safety development.

“The zone has begun massive steps in its corporate aspirations for excellence in reducing crashes on the roads,’’ he said.

Zaki said that the officers’ pursuit of excellent and quick response to emergency had brought tremendous reduction in crashes, especially on the expressways.

According to him, officers at various cadres have been trained and retrained to distil experiences and show results of interventions within the context of their happening.

He said that the relocation of operational resources to the highways, which was as a result of management directive, had opened another outlook in FRSC operational history.

The zonal commander also said that the ongoing reconstruction works on Lagos-Ibadan expressway had opened another landscape for the personnel of the corps to achieve excellent performance.

He, therefore, advised motorists and other road users to obey traffic laws and drive safely to prevent unnecessary crashes on the roads. (NAN)
AKA/VIV/DUA

Edited by Vivian Ihechu/Dada Ahmed

Defence/Security

FRSC records 197 arrests during Eid-el-Fitr festival in Kwara

NAN-H-53
FRSC
By AbdulFatai Beki
Ilorin, July 3, 2017 (NAN) The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in  Kwara   said on Monday that  it arrested and prosecuted 197 motorists for violating traffic rules  during the last Eid-el-Fitr celebration.

Mr Sunday Maku, the FRSC  Sector Commander in the state, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin  that the offenders committed a total of 204  traffic offences across the 16  local councils  in the state.

He said  private and commercial vehicle owners were among the offenders.

“Some of the offences committed by the motorists were dangerous driving, refusal to use seat belts, over loading, expired vehicle particulars and lack of speed limit device in their  vehicles.

“The offenders were tried by  special mobile courts established at various locations in the state.

“The command also  recorded four road crashes during the period, with  one person  dead  while 10 were injured,’’ he said.

Maku further  said that 89 vehicles  were impounded during the period for not being road worthy among  other offences. (NAN)
BEKI /VIV/OJO
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(Editing by Vivian Ihechu/Mufutau Ojo)

Health

NGO urges FRSC to partner psychiatric organisations in evaluation of traffic offenders

NAN-H-1
Partnership
By Yashim Katurak
Abuja, June 24, 2017 (NAN) Mr Ameh Zion, the President of Mandate Health Empowerment Initiative (MHEI), an NGO, has called on Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) to partner psychiatric organisations in the evaluation of traffic offenders.

He made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Saturday, in reaction to FRSC’s mental examination on traffic law breakers expected to begin nationwide on July 1.

The commission said the examination would focus on life-threatening violations such on use of phone while driving, route violation, traffic light violation, dangerous driving and overloading.

Zion, who lauded the initiative, however, stressed the need for partnership with related organisations to achieve the desired results.

He said “I do not see the possibility of this operation achieving the objective without collaboration with NGOs and other bodies who are already knowledgeable about mental health.

“A lot needs to be put in place as regards the psychiatric evaluation of traffic offenders.

“How many assessment centres do we have in the states; how many locations do we have traffic lights and how many psychologists do we have compared to the number of likely offenders.

“The vehicles we have on our roads today are many as against the number of traffic check points we have.

“If people break traffic rules, how many officials do we have in all these locations to arrest the situation.

“I want to advice FRSC to work with already trained professionals in the concerned field so that they can fully assist in addressing the situation.”

The FRSC Corps Marshal, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, on June 12, announced that the commission would commence enforcement of psychiatric tests on traffic law offenders in the country.

He said this was necessitated by continued violation of traffic rules in spite of
efforts by the corps to change the behaviour of motorists through education and enforcement.

The test will focus on four areas of violations — use of phone while driving, traffic light and route violations, as well as dangerous driving.

Offenders who were caught would be referred to various government hospitals for mental health check.

He said enforcement will start on July 1, 2017. (NAN)
KRY/HA
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Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu