Tomorrow, the Federal Road Safety Corps will commence full enforcement of the compulsory use of speed limiting devices in order to address the prevalent speed related car accidents across the country. Excessive speeding remains the number one causative factor accounting for about 50% of reported road traffic crashes in the country according to This Day. The enforcement date, September 1st was agreed by the FRSC and its strategic partners during a one day stakeholders forum in Abuja.
The Forum had also agreed for FRSC and its partners to embark on massive awareness to secure public buy in, government to set deadline for all imported vehicles and those manufactured in Nigeria to have speed limiters installed ,while SON should demand in-plant calibration certificate from manufacturers of speed limiting devices meant for use in Nigeria among others. The initial date for the enforcement was June 1st 2015, but the shift was approved in order to enable other logistics necessary for a successful implementation to be put in place by partners such as SON, National Automotive Council of Nigeria and FRSC.
So what has happened since the date was shifted?
- A series of events and machineries have been implemented in order to ensure a smooth sail for the scheme.
- A series of consultation between the FRSC and its partners such as NURTW.
- The Total Nigeria Awareness Campaign took place in Abuja, during which 30 vehicles were installed with speed limiters as a demonstration of the CSR of Total.
What should this scheme ensure?
- This scheme should therefore ensure a 30% crash reduction.
- This scheme should also ensure a 40% reduction in the number of deaths caused by car accidents.
Although this is a much needed scheme in Nigeria, many have responded with questions and concerns as to how the FRSC plans on enforcing speed limiters. One reader wrote to This Day:
“Let me start by appreciating your efforts in raising awareness through your numerous write-ups which I have passionately followed…Let me however draw your attention to the soon to be enforced speed limiting device which I acknowledge will go a long way in addressing excessive speeding which has caused so much pains to families and the nation at large. As one whose passion for safer roads has no bounds, I must inform you that I am in touch with concerned Nigerians who have wondered if [the FRSC] truly hope to enforce by September 1st, as reported in the dailies. I have no issues with that date .But please I need you to please provide me the details of the vendors and their spread across the country, their capacities, the cost for installation and how long it takes to install a limiter in one vehicle. I also need to know how much training the FRSC men have gone through to equip them with the skills and knowledge for detecting tampering of installed systems as was the case in places like Kenya.”
Enquiries like the one stated above are necessary as a scheme like this can fail if we do not follow protocol and citizens are not provided with adequate information. The FRSC must ensure that they follow the same protocol as they did with their seatbelt campaign, which succeeded because time was taken to embark on nationwide awareness, to the extent where every motorist understood the law before it was enforced in every state across the country.