The Nation Newspaper

Tag: road accidents

  • Driving hours and rate of road accidents

    Without doubt, the rate of road accidents is still uncomfortably high in Nigeria and this has prompted me to increase my volume of proposals to the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), the state governments and the Federal Capital Territory Authority towards finding solution to this deadly monster.

    In the course of my recent research and investigations among some public and private sector drivers, I found out that stress and fatigue is fast becoming one of the major causes of road traffic crashes in the country.

    Some of the drivers interviewed confessed that they drive 28 hours with less than one hour break and less than four hours sleep. This is a very dangerous act which can cause micro sleep while driving and if allowed to build up overtime, can lead to fatigue, chronic-fatigue syndrome, cerebral arteriosclerosis, high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke and sudden death on or off the road.

    Drivers and employers of drivers must take note of the fact that adequate sleep (6 – 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep daily) is very vital to the productivity and safety of all categories of drivers.

    Every employer of driver must open and regularly update a diary (or Log book} for every driver where their driving hours are recording daily. The use of the drivers dairy will guide their employers as to when to give the drivers break to rest before embarking on another driving task.

    Drivers must not take their rest (sleep) for granted because inadequate rest (sleep) reduces concentration, focus (visual acuity), muscle flexibility, brain function, reaction time, etc.

    FRSC should consider the possibility of mandating all commercial and company drivers to carry along a completed driving diary or log book which the traffic officers can always check to know the number of hours the drivers have been on the road and determine if the drivers have had enough rest (sleep) in-between trips through an interview of the drivers). This additional task may sound tedious but it will go a long way to put the drivers and their employers on their toes not to take stress and fatigue with levity because they are factors that have lately increased the rate of accidents and fatalities among drivers of articulated vehicles (Trailers, Tankers and other Trucks), commercial and company drivers among others. Every life-saving task is worth the efforts. Prevention is usually better, cheaper and easier than the aftermath curative moves.

  • FRSC records 110 deaths in road accidents in Edo, Delta, other

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Wednesday said no fewer than 110 deaths were recorded in Edo, Delta and Anambra due to road accidents in the first quarter of 2017.

    Mr Kehinde Adeleye, the Zonal Commanding Officer, Zone 5, comprising Edo, Delta and Anambra, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin on Wednesday.

    Adeleye said 1,334 persons were involved in 170 road accidents within the period under review, with 551 people sustaining varying degrees of injury.

    Giving a breakdown of the incidents, the Zonal Commander said that in Edo 30 deaths were recorded from 62 accidents involving 495 people in January

    He said that in Delta 61 deaths were recorded in 52 road accidents involving 252 people, while in Anambra 46 deaths were recorded in 66 accidents involving 487 people within the period.

    Adeleye explained that compared with the statistics of the last quarter of 2016, the figure was high as 70 deaths, 363 were injured in 142 accidents involving 1,251 people in the zone.

    He, however, said the figure was similar to that recorded in the first quarter of 2016 which was 111 deaths from 110 accidents involving 924 persons with 525 injured.

    The FRSC Zonal commander attributed road accidents to speed violations, dangerous driving as well as break failure.

    Adeleye advised drivers to maintain speed limits, especially with the approaching rainy season and to avoid buying fairly used tyres.

    He also appealed to stakeholders to ensure strict compliance and enforcement of Federal Government directives or policies made to ensure safer roads.

    The zonal commander commended the NSCDC and the Army for their collaboration with the corps toward ensuring that the correct data on road traffic crashes were obtained from the hinterlands.

  • Boko Haram and road accidents (2)

    Hence the continuous reports of road accidents and fatalities daily or weekly basis nationwide.

    The disgraceful compromise in the issuance of driver’s licence has also put more burden on the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) as to which strategies to employ to reduce the carnage on Nigeria roads.

    This is evident in the recent announcement by the authorities of FRSC that fuel tankers should no more move in the night. This is a policy adopted out of a confused mind. Before deciding on the strategies to adopt to reduce the rate of accidents among the fuel tanker drivers, we must seek the true answers to the following question: Were the tanker drivers given the right foundational and re-training? No is the answer. Were the drivers subjected to adequate pre-driving sleep or rest? Is there an effective drug abuse prevention and counseling programme for the drivers? What time of the day is best suited for the transportation of petroleum products considering the flammable nature and traffic? Do the tanker drivers have Licence? If yes, how did they obtain the licence? The back door of course!

    Unless these and allied foundamental questions are properly addressed, the no night movement law of the FRSC will not solve the problem of articulated vehicle accidents.

    The United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety (2011 – 2020) aimed at drastically reducing the rate of road accidents and fatalities is just about 3 years to end with Nigeria still wallowing in Corrupt Driver Licence System, weak Road Safety Administration and Traffic Management as well as poor road user education. Nigeria is still far from accomplishing the five pillars of the UN  Decade of Action as at today. Yet the Governments are not feeling concerned. Rather, they are gallivanting around to raise billions of Naira to finance the Boko Haram war and the resettlement of the North East. This is right but should not be to the neglect of road accident prevent. We should not forget that Boko Haram was a product of neglect as well.

    It is time for the Federal Government to set up a result-oriented think-tank comprising all the stakeholders in the road safety and transport sector, including representatives of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial arms of government at the Federal and state levels) to chart the right way forward to prevent further loss of innocent lives on Nigeria roads.  President Muhammadu Buhari has sworn to an oath to protect the lives of Nigerians and he must be seen as genuinely doing so in words and in actions. A stitch in time saves nine.

  • Multiple road accidents leave one dead in Delta

    Multiple road accidents leave one dead in Delta

    At least one person was reported dead in one of the three road crashes that happened in different parts of Delta State on Saturday.

    An accident involving a tricycle, popularly called Keke in the state, and a pickup vehicle, claimed the life of an unknown person on the Otokutu Bridge. According to eyewitnesses, the accident occurred when the pickup driver was trying to stay off the path of some Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC), who were on the chase of another vehicle.

    Although details surrounding the accident, which occurred at about 11:20am, were quite sketchy at the time and filing this in, Sunday Nation gathered that the driver of the tricycle was the casualty of the accident.

    Meanwhile, a similar incident, although of lesser fatality, had occurred around Ugbomro and Ugbolokposo Junctions along DSC/Otokutu Expressway in Effurun, Uvwie council area of the state, when a truck, to be loaded with pipes, ran into motorcycles and shops.

    Sources said the accident occurred when a policeman, who had tried to stop the truck driver for check without success, pursued the vehicle, caught up with it, entered with the driver and struggled to take the wheel from the driver.

    There was, however, no casualty recorded in the accident, which reportedly happened at about 10am. Sources also said both the driver and policeman fled the crash scene after the crash, abandoning the vehicle.

    A third accident, it was learned, happened at the army check point at the Ekrerawhe Junction in Ughelli North, when a tanker, loaded with liquid suspected to be Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), ran into two cars and a truck as a result of a failed brake.

    Although, there was no death record, two persons, including the driver of the tanker, were said have sustained severe injuries.

    Describing their experience after the accident, a passenger in one of the cars crushed by the tanker,  Daniel Odoko, they had just cheated death.

  • FRSC to commence implementation of speed limit device

    FRSC to commence implementation of speed limit device

    The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) is to begin the enforcement of the new speed limit device with effect from April 2016 as against the earlier announced date of September 2015.

    Corp Marshal of the Commission, Boboye Oyeyemi who disclosed this at the 16 annual General Meeting of the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) said President Muhammadu Buhari approved the new date as a result of numerous appeals by Nigerians on the extension of the date of implementation.

    Represented by the Deputy Corp Marsha, Operation, AA Abu, the Corp Marshal said over 50 percent of accidents on Nigerian roads are traceable to road accident and indiscipline by drivers on the highway, pointing out that as part of efforts at addressing frequent road accident, the FRSC was working hard to curtail over speeding on the nation’s highways.

    He said further that as a result of the tanker fire in Anambra state and Lagos and several other crashes, the FRSC organised a stakeholders conference which recommended the re certification of tanker drivers across the country and regulation of speed limit.

    He disclosed that the decertification which began in July was carried out in Lagos and nine other Centres adding that as a result of the exercise, the FRSC discovered several fake and expired drivers license, while receiving a lot of complaints on the mishandling of the issuance of drivers’ licenses and issues of extortion by agents.

    Oyeyemi disclosed that the FRSC was working in collaboration with the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to ensure that fake spare parts does not find their way into the Nigeria market anymore and call for timely rehabilitation of a Nigeria. Roads.

    Speaking earlier, National President of NARTO, Alhaji I Kassim Ibrahim Bataiya said that over 60 percent of Nigerian roads were in bad shape and in dire need if urgent attention.

    While challenging the government to immediately put the roads in order Bataiya said the association has “implicit confidence on the government of the country to deliver on their electoral mandate.

    “We strongly support the anti corruption campaign of Mr. president and we pledge to continue to play by the rules in line with our resolve to remain a committed and non partisan organisation poised to deliver transport efficiently and effectively throughout the country.

    “While congratulating the new ministers, particularly those of Power, Works and Housing, Transportation, Petroleum and Labour, we wish to appeal for quicker response to the country’s infrastructural  needs especially roads, railways, pipelines and refineries in order to address the unending energy crises that always destabilize our country.”

  • Team to tackle road accidents

    The Olota of Ota, Oba Osanyintolu Alani Oyede, has raised a group to monitor road users in the community.

    The monarch said the group, Ota/Awori Joint Security Team, was formed to curb road accidents.

    Describing the rate of accidents as worrisome, he said it was time the community joined hands with traffic agencies to instil discipline.

    The team’s coordinator, Chief Agbebi Ojugbele, urged the State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) and other agencies to support the team to guarantee the safety of life and property.

    He said some drivers have turned the roads into death traps, despite the investment of the Ibikunle Amosun-led administration to upgrade roads in the state.

    The operation will hold for 12 hours daily on the roads, including the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway (Tollgate).

  • ‘Bad road designs cause road accidents’

    Public Education Officer at the Kwara State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr. N.N. Ndem, has attributed most road accidents in the country to bad road designs.

    Mr. Ndem, who made the observation while delivering a lecture at the annual get-together of the Unilorin Drivers’ Welfare Association (UDWA), said road safety guidelines encompass all road users including pedestrians and vehicle drivers.

    He said: “Always keep in mind that the person you kill in an accident might be one out of one billion, but for his family he might be the only bread winner and the dearest.”

     

     

    The event also featured a send forth of retiring staff of the institution, where the Registrar, Mr. Emanuel Obafemi, charged them to be focused, reliable and leave a good legacy for upcoming members to emulate.

     

  • Expert decries increase in road accidents

    A road safety expert has described the rise in accident statistics worldwide as worrisome. He challenged motorists to use the roads more responsibly.

    The Executive Director of Safety Without Borders, Mr Adenusi Patrick, who spoke on the World’s Day of Remembrance of Accident Victims, described as frightening, the yearly statistics of the deaths, the injured and the maimed, resulting from road accidents.

    According to him, the world might be going through an undeclared third world war with the rate of casualties from road crash.

    He said: “According to the United Nations, 1.3 million people die on world roads yearly and between 20-25 million people are injured and another five million sustained permanent disabilities. “Never has the world been so threatened by any scourge, and never did any  epidemic has the capacity to incur so heavy human casualty,” he said.

    Attempts to reduce this scary rate, he said, led to the declaration of a decade of action against road crashes in 2011 by the United Nations, which would end in 2020.

    Adenusi, who noted that road safety is everybody’s business, urged drivers to stop endangering their lives and those of their passengers due to lack of appropriate road etiquette.

    The safety chief, who noted that the “Ember” month is characterised by more long distance travels, asked motorists embarking on such to sleep well before their departure and avoid eating heavy foods that could make them drowsy when on wheels.

    He urged learners not to embark on long distance driving, but to limit their activites to within the metropolis, until they can gain more road confidence.

    “No one embarking on long travel should eat heavy starchy foods as this could lead to drowsiness. They should also flee from alcohol, which impairs their sense of judgment and avoid over speeding. Kill your speed before it kills you. Avoid close range overtaking, don’t overtake on a slope, a bend, or a hill and don’t undermine the speed of the driver driving opposite you,” he warned.

    He recommended that long distance drivers should observe a minimum of 15 minutes rest at regular intervals on the roads to avoid weariness.

    According to Adenusi, driver should ensure that their vehicles are road worthy and have all appropriate documents before putting them on the road.  .

    “You should ensure you change your tyres, and ensure that only unexpired tyres are used. Ensure your braking system is working perfectly and work on the light system to ensure they are in perfect condition.

    “Mend all cracks on your wind shield, change the wipers or wash them to avoid blurring your vision and clean your radiator to ensure effective cooling of your vehicle’s engines,” Adenusi said.

  • Road accidents in Nigeria will remain high if………

    • There are no standard theory and practical tests for learners before being issued licence. Today in Nigeria, there are officers of the state governments and the Federal Road Safety Commission who have printed driving school certificates in their table drawers or cabinets which they personally issue to learners who did not even attend any driving school thereby making people that go to driving schools look foolish. This destructive selfish habit must be stopped forthwith. It is also time for the Federal Road Safety Commission and the state government agencies to conclude arrangements on the uniform theory and practical tests to be conducted monthly or quarterly in all the states in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (including verbal versions for those who cannot read and write since they cannot be avoided in Nigeria for now). This if done, will promote standards among the driving schools and safety on the roads since the learners will prefer to attend only the schools that will effectively teach them to guarantee their success in the tests and as it happens in the secondary schools preparing students for WAEC Examinations.

    • Pre – Driver Licence Renewal Refresher Training – Without doubt, majority of Nigerians driving today did not receive the right training in driving schools and this has been impacting negatively on the driving of some of them. In addition, vehicle technology, driver health and the road environment are dynamic. Hence the need for every driver (including drivers of self – owned vehicles as long as you are holding the driver licence) to undergo a mandatory pre – licence renewal refresher training in driving schools. Driving has to do with human lives and valuable properties and it must be appropriately addressed with a very high degree of seriousness without selfish motives. If other professionals have continuing education programmes and workers undergo different levels of capacity building programmes, why not same in driving, whether you drive daily or occasionally, for a living or for pleasure.

    • Introduction of licence seizure or driver suspension:  It is time for the Federal Road Safety Commission to be more present on the roads and focus more attention on what happens on the roads and not             in offices. Any driver who causes  an accident or commits dangerous driving offence should have his or her driver licence withdrawn and also banned from driving for a specific period of time depending on the degree or circumstances surrounding the accident caused by him or her. This will make people see safety – consciousness as expedient.

    To be continued.

  • Road accidents in Nigeria will remain high if………

    Daily reports in Nigeria are still pointing to the fact that the rate of road accidents (crashes) and fatalities is still disturbingly high.

    We should still remind ourselves of the recent rating of Nigeria as second to the last of 193 countries with high rates of road accidents.

    The truth I wish to categorically state here is that unless the issues I want to mention in this article are objectively considered and addressed, the rate of accidents and fatalities in Nigeria will continue to be on the rise.

    • Inadequate monitoring of the roads – There are some portion of intra and inter – State roads that have become death traps simply because the government officials responsible are not prompt in monitoring for quality construction by the Contractor or maintenance.

    • Misplaced priority – Evidences abound that Government (Federal and States) and their agencies have and are still misplacing priorities in issues relating to the safety of lives and properties. For example, in the whole country with a population of over 150 million people, there is no single standard driving range constructed  by the Federal Government, state government, Federal Road Safety Commission, Ministries of Transport, Ministries of Works nor by other agencies which the driving schools can use to train people how to drive or test candidates for Licence processing. Instead of focusing on this, the state governments are busy establishing drivers institute without driving range but just for income generation thereby limiting the opportunities that should have been available to driving schools to generate income, improve their standards, pay more taxes and make more impacts.  The Federal Road Safety Commission is also busy running around to companies to conduct training programmes for drivers, a function that the same Federal Road Safety Commission and the State Vehicle Inspection Departments certified the Driving Schools to perform. How many vehicles and drivers on Nigeria roads today passed the standards of the Federal Road Safety Commission and the Vehicle Inspection Officers? Why are they still moving about on the roads with impunity? The answer is not far fetched, the people to check and control them have been diverted by fund mobilisation for the governments and for personal pockets.

     

    3.            There are no standard Theory and Practical Tests for Learners before being issued Licence. Today in Nigeria, there are Officers of the State Governments and the Federal Road Safety Commission who have printed Driving School Certificates in their table drawers or cabinets which they personally issue to Learners who did not even attend any driving school thereby making people that go to driving schools look foolish. This destructive selfish habit must be stopped forthwith. It is also time for the Federal Road Safety Commission and the State Government Agencies to conclude arrangements on the uniform Theory and Practical Tests to be conducted monthly or quarterly in all the States in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (including verbal versions for those who cannot read and write since they cannot be avoided in Nigeria for now). This if done, will promote standards among the Driving Schools and safety on the roads since the Learners will prefer to attend only the schools that will effectively teach them to guarantee their success in the tests and as it happens in the Secondary Schools preparing students for WAEC Examinations.

    4.          Pre – Driver Licence Renewal Refresher Training – Without doubt, majority of Nigerians driving today did not receive the right training in Driving Schools and this has been impacting negatively on the driving of some of them. In addition, Vehicle technology, Driver health and the Road environment are dynamic. Hence the need for every Driver (including Drivers of self – own vehicles as long as you are holding the Driver Licence) to undergo a mandatory Pre – Licence Renewal Refresher training in Driving Schools. Driving has to do with human lives and valuable properties and it must be appropriately addressed with a very high degree of seriousness without selfish motives. If other Professionals have continuing Education programmes and workers undergo different levels of capacity building programmes, why not same in driving, whether you drive daily or occasionally, for a living or for pleasure.

    5.          Introduction of Licence seizure or Driver Suspension – it is time for the Federal Road Safety Commission to be more present on the roads and focus more attention on what happens on the roads and not on offices. Any Driver who caused an accident or commit dangerous driving offence should have his or her Driver Licence withdrawn and also banned from driving for a specific period of time depending on the degree or circumstances surrounding the accident caused by him or her. This will make people see safety – consciousness as expedient.

    6.          Government (Federal and States) must adequately fund their road and traffic management Agencies to ensure the availability of all the infrastructures and equipment needed to facilitate safety and security on all roads in Nigeria both in the day and in the night. How long will it take us to be among the Countries with good roads, safety cameras on highways, Breathalyzer or Alcolizers for detecting drunk or drugged Drivers, Middle and Side road markings, adequate and appropriate road traffic signs among others?

    7.          Regular Transport and Safety Conference – There is a need for an annual conference of all Stakeholders by the Federal Ministry of Transport where all issues touching road safety will be regularly addressed for input into the Federal, States and Local Government programmes to further enhance safety and security on Nigeria roads. I am very confident that if the above and allied issues are looked into without bias by the Federal and State Governments and other Agencies, there will be drastic reduction in the rate of road traffic crashes and fatalities thereby improving the global rating of Nigeria.

    8.          Inattention to Other Road Users – As at today in Nigeria, there has been no serious focus on the training and re – raining Motorcycle (Okada) and Tricycle (KeKe NAPEP) Riders. Without doubt, these categories of the mode of transportation carry the highest volume of Passengers in some parts of every State in Nigeria including the Federal Capital Territory. They also have the highest rate of accidents and fatalities. Why then are the Government not taking proactive actions to prevent these loses? The ban of Okada from the Cities and their replacement with Tricycles are mere policy decorations or rhetorics which is far from solving the problems.

     

     

    9.          Imagine a situation where officers of Federal Road Safety Commission, Vehicle Inspection Departments (VIOs), Nigeria Police Force, Traffic Police Officers (Yellow Fever), Highway Patrol Officers, State Traffic Management Officers (LASTMA in Lagos State, TRACE in Ogun State, etc), Military Officers, Joint Task Force, and the State/Local Government Revenue Collectors do stop vehicles to check all the particulars and Drivers Licence with the main goal of extorting money from the Drivers and in some cases from the passengers who are Traders transporting their goods. Ask some Commercial and Private Drivers on plying intra and inter – state roads how many points they are stopped, checked by the Officers of these Agencies and drained of money, oftentimes within an interval of less than one kilometer.

    When multitudes of people are rushing and competing to do the same job, there is always the tendency to neglect other or more vital jobs that could have been better done if there is distinct separation of powers or result – oriented definition of duties.

    No matter the duties that any of these Officers may put forward, the bottom-line is income generation and illegal extortion. They are unknowingly creating emotional pressure for the Drivers which is a great cause of road accidents.

    10.        The Federal Road Safety Commission regulates the Driving Schools in Nigeria. The Vehicle Inspection Department of the State Government regulates the Driving Schools, State Drivers Institutes regulate the Driving Schools, the Nigerian Police Force intervenes in the operation of Driving Schools, the Standard Organisation of Nigeria intervenes in the operation of Driving Schools and the Board of Internal Revenue in some States also intervenes in the operation of Driving Schools in some States in Nigeria. To whom then are the Driving Schools in Nigeria responsible to or should take orders from? Unless this is defined and enforced, there will continue to be a dangerous disorder not favourable to road safety education in Nigeria.

     

    In some vein, the Motor Vehicle Licencing Authorities and the Board of Internal Revenue handle the issue of Learners permit to Learners. The Learners Permit confers the right on learners to drive on the road pending the issuance of Driver Licence to the Candidates. How can an agency that is not responsible for the Training of Drivers issue Learners Permit which certifies them okay to driver?

     

    By all standards, it is the Driving Schools that train the Candidates that can confirm if they are qualified to be issued Learners Permit. This means that the State Governments should allow only Driving Schools to issue Learners Permit to the Candidates on their behalf on mutually agreed terms. It is time to do things right to get the right result in the interest of our dear Nation Nigeria.

    Every Rider must be subjected to pre – Licence and pre – Licence Renewal comprehensive theory and practical Training and Tests in the Driving Schools since they cannot be completely phased out in Nigeria today because of the state of the economy and poor road infrastructures.

    All other road users such as Animal Rearers, Truck Pushers, Bicycle Riders, School Children and pedestrians must be subjected to regular training and re – training using different fora (including radio, television Newspapers and Road shows). Multi – sectoral and holistic approach must be employed by the Government through their Agencies and other Stakeholders to ensure that we truly committed in words and in deed to accomplishment the goals of the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety in Nigeria.