Starting from October 1, 2016, the Federal Road Safety Corps, (FRSC), will enforce the use of the Speed Limit Device in all commercial vehicles.
To ensure no one is ignorant of the latest development, Anambra State Sector Command of the Corps has organized a one-day sensitization meeting, for both commercial and private vehicle drivers, to discuss all the issues concerning the speed limit device policy.
Speaking about the importance of the new FRSC policy, the Anambra State Sector Commander, Mr Sunday Ajayi and the Zonal Commander in charge of RS5 Benin, Assistant Corps Marshal Shehu Zaki, maintained that almost all the crashes that occur on the highways are attributed to over-speeding.
The Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Red Cross, Anambra State chapter, Professor Peter Kachi, also urged “the political class should comply with the latest policy as they are the highest offenders”.
The resource persons explained how the device works to the participants and why it is important that every driver should install it.
They further said that it would help to track vehicles, in case an emergency occurs.
The Secretary FRSC, said the enforcement will be total starting with commercial vehicle drivers before the private car owners.
Commissioner for Road, Rail and Water Transportation was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Ferdinand Obi.
He commended the state government for showing commitment to the safety of motorists plying Anambra roads by marking all roads in the state as well as placing road signs at strategic points.
He also urged every stakeholder involved to be part of the latest effort at sanitizing the highways.
Some of the highlights of the programme, were a drama presented by Youth Corps members and medical checkups carried out on drivers.
Over-speeding has been identified as the major cause of road crashes which is said to claim an estimated one point two million lives all over the globe annually, and also causing injury on about 50 million people annually.
In Nigeria alone, reports from the FRSC say, about 10,000 deaths are recorded annually as a result of road crashes.
Over the years, however, efforts have been made to reduce the incidence of road crashes especially during the “ember” months, as it is believed that human and vehicular movements on the roads are on the increase.
