The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has said it had introduced several measures to address the menace of petrol tanker crashes on Nigerian highways.
Its Public Education Officer (CPEO), Assistant Corps Marshal (ACM) Olusegun Ogungbemide, announced the measures in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja.
Ogungbemide said the FRSC had been working tirelessly to reduce road traffic crashes (RTCs) to the barest minimum, despite the challenges posed by the large number of vehicles on the road.
The education officer restated the FRSC’s commitment to mitigating the risks associated with petrol tanker crashes, which were often devastating.
He said the FRSC introduced the Road Transport Safety Standardisation Scheme (RTSSS) in 2007, which regulated the transport system involving haulage vehicles.
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Ogungbemide said the scheme ensured that drivers underwent a series of training, and only sound individuals were allowed to drive.
According to him, the measure has significantly improved the safety of haulage vehicles on Nigeria roads.
“Furthermore, the FRSC has also introduced safety valves to prevent spillage in the event of a crash. This measure is crucial in preventing fires and explosions that often result from petrol tanker crashes,” he said.
Ogungbemide said the FRSC was also working to ensure that all petrol tankers have safety valves to minimise the risks associated with their operation.
The CPEO said the FRSC had also introduced the concept of “Safe to Load”, which ensures that vehicles and drivers meet minimum safety standards before they are allowed to load.
“This measure has been implemented in 116 active depots across the country and has significantly reduced the number of petrol tanker crashes on Nigerian highways,” he said.