Date: 2017-01-01

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Kwara has directed commercial vehicles' owners to install speed limiter device on their vehicles or face fine of N3,000 in default.

The Zonal Commanding Officer, Mr John Meheux . made this known at an interactive session with newsmen in Ilorin on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the enforcement of the mandatory speed limiting devices in commercial vehicles begins on Wednesday Feb. 1.

Meheux said that President Muhammadu Buhari had endorsed the implementation of the mandatory installation of the device in October 2016.

"Also , the House of Representatives' resolution of June 23, 2016 approved the introduction of speed limiter in accordance with the extant provisions of the FRSC Establishment Act(2007).

"Consequently, the FRSC embarked on extensive consultation with relevant stakeholders and elaborate public education programmes.

"The Corps on Oct. 1, commenced a subtle enforcement of the speed limiting device in all commercial vehicles across the country, this means those who did not install the device were not punished but rather educated on its benefits.

"Having sufficiently sensitised the motoring public on the social, economic and safety imperatives, it is suitable to immediately commence the full enforcement of the installation of the device, starting with commercial vehicles," he said.

The zonal commander said that the decision was predicated on the analysis of data generated from Road Traffic Crashes (RTC) around the country.

He said that the analysis over time revealed that speed and the involvement of commercial vehicles consistently accounted for about 60 per cent of RTC in Nigeria.

"The FRSC wish to assure the general public that adequate mechanism has been put in place to ensure that the full enforcement of regulations on the mandatory installation of speed limiting device.

"The appropriate specifications and modalities for the use of the device were approved by the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in August 2016.

"All commercial vehicles traversing the zone without the speed limiter will be punished accordingly after having appeared before the mobile court.

"Offenders will be made to pay a fine of N3,000 for non installation.

"As partners in maintaining law and order, the valued cooperation of the media and all stakeholders is hereby solicited and anticipated for."

According to him, the success of this internationally acclaimed road safety strategy will go a long way to enhance safer motoring environment in the country", he said.

NAN reports that the FRSC Zone RS8, consists of Kwara, Kogi and Ekiti states. (NAN)