The Nation Newspaper

Tag: speed limiters

  • Speed limiters

    Speed limiters

    •Cost of installation and method of enforcement should be reviewed

    THE Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has, after all, commenced enforcement of the installation of Automated Speed Limiting Device in all public transport vehicles. The proposal had been on the table for more than two years but was resisted by transporters who argued that it was another ploy to fleece them of N36, 000 by the commission. Arguing so persuasively, the transporters said they did not have to cough up such a princely sum at a time the economy was biting so hard. Cost of replacing buses has gone up, especially with the high exchange rate and the ban on importation of used vehicles through the land borders.
    Besides, a new policy on replacement of Drivers Licences and motor number plates was recently imposed on motorists, making life more difficult. Corruption is a major bane of running successful transport business in the country. As the Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources confirmed while speaking on the high cost of food, all the security agencies, without exception, are at various points on the highways extorting money from transporters under the guise of checking vehicles or particulars.
    It is therefore understandable that protests greeted the enforcement of the speed limiting rule. Some Nigerians opposed to the measure contend that the method being introduced has become outdated, rather calling for the introduction of the Spider method if it must be introduced. The method, it is said, allows the commission officials to gauge the speed of a vehicle from a distance, and impose the necessary fine. This method would not impose the burden on motorists. Others contend that rather than opt for the Electronic Speed Limiting Device, Nigeria could have embraced the Mechanical Device that still allows for discretion on the part of the driver. He could, in emergency situations, override the warning by the limiter. The electronic device does not allow such discretion as the driver cannot go beyond the installed limit.
    The speed limit is another area of contention. By the FRSC mode, the upper limit is universal, cutting across all Nigerian roads. The practice in other countries is to allow a high upper limit and then fix limits according to the nature of the road. Thereby, the limit to be imposed on an eight-lane highway would be different from that of single lane inter-state roads.
    But, the FRSC has been relentless in claiming that the carnage on the roads has left it with no choice in making the intervention. Its image-makers say road crashes claim more lives in the country than malaria. On the view that the commission lacks the power to make and enforce the rule, attention has been drawn to section 10(3)(m) of the FRSC (Establishment) Act of 2007 and the National Road Traffic Regulation of 2012 as sources of their power.
    This won the commission the legal argument. The House of Representatives intervened by starting on a rather truculent noteand backed down when the issues were well canvassed by the FRSC and other stakeholders. The commission pointed out that it did not unilaterally decide the type and cost of the device to be allowed. It told the lawmakers that the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the National Automotive Design and Development Council of Nigeria (NADDCN) participated in the process.
    There is no doubt that, whatever the argument, something drastic must be done to make our roads safer. It is true that the government has not done enough, but the people will always carry the can, hence the need to limit speed. The roads are generally bad; even those recently constructed are riddled with potholes, leading to avoidable crashes. We, therefore, support the measure taken by the FRSC, especially since a time had been allowed for advisory enforcement. We call on the commission to explore means of reviewing the cost of the speed limiters in view of the economic crunch. Equally due for review is the sometimes crude method of enforcement by some of its overzealous officials.

  • Speed limiters scarce, says NURTW

    Speed limiters scarce, says NURTW

    Lagos state chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) yesterday said its members were finding it difficult to get speed limit devices in the market.
    Its Chairman, Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, said many members were complaining of unavailability of the devices. He spoke against the backdrop of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) enforcement of commercial buses’ use of speed limiters from February 1.
    “We are ready to comply with the policy, but the challenges we are facing is the non-availability of the devices. The union members supported the idea of using the devices in our vehicles.
    “But government should put in place a designated place where people can have access to purchase and fix the devices,” he said.
    Lagos State FRSC Sector Commander, Hyginius Omeje, had told NAN that experts and professionals to fix the devices had been introduced to the union at various motor parks.
    The experts, he said, had been introduced to the union during the advisory enforcement.
    “We have assigned to each park various sales companies and agents involved in the sales and fixing of speed limiters.
    “There is no excuse for any of them in purchasing and fixing the devices,” he had said.

  • 52 drivers held in Lagos, Ogun for breach of speed limiters

    NO fewer than 39 commercial drivers were arrested yesterday and their vehicles impounded in Ogun State by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for failing to install speed limiters.

    Thirteen were held in Lagos.

     They were arraigned and convicted for various offences ranging from failure to install the device and other related offences, such as driving with fake drivers licence, tyres’ violation and overloading at Ota Mobile Court , Ogun State.

    The Ota Unit Commander, Anthony I. Osahon, an Assistant Commander, said the speed limiter initiative by the Corps was part of the strategy to reduce road traffic crashes caused by speed, adding that about 60 per cent of crashes in the country were caused by excessive speed.

    “Over-speeding as a major cause of road traffic crashes and high challenges facing road traffic management is no longer news in Nigeria. In combating this worrisome activity caused by human attitudes, the Corps has been working very hard since June 22, 2012 to stop this trend,’’ Osahon said.

    Earlier, Osahon said the Corps had embarked on extensive enlightenment/awareness programmes, such as stakeholders forum, on the speed limiter, public education at various parks, visitation to churches and mosques to highlight the importance, safety implications and technicalities of the device, saying it was in corroboration with the subtle enforcement of the mandatory installation of the device in all commercial vehicles across the country.

    Also, 13 of the traffic offenders were arrested by the Surulere Unit Command’s special patrol for 18 offences, of which eight were speed limiters violation. Others were drivers licence violation, tyres and overloading.

    The Unit Commander Tunji  Oguntoye said the special patrol was focused on the speed limiting device enforcement.

  • The debate on Speed Limiters

    SIR: I have watched and read with enormous interest the ongoing debate on the introduction of speed limiters for commercial drivers in Nigeria and I must confess that the arguments both for and against its implementation are clear hints that Nigeria’s road safety is still travelling on a long route of seeming undefined destination.

    On the part of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, it is very easy to notice a mixed basket of unconvincing logic. First, is that its claim that about 50 percent of road crashes are caused by speeding beyond limits is mere guess work. Nigeria has no such facility to factually state what caused a road crash especially when it relates to driving too fast because we have no speed monitors. In fact, that ought to be the vital reason why the issue of speed limiters is even on the table. Attributing a chunk of road crashes to overspeeding is far from the truth and I consider it a means of trying to bully Nigerians into endorsing the use of speed limiters. If the FRSC statistics would be considered accurate, then what it means is that our roads are now very good and well illuminated; drivers now drive very well; people no longer drink and drive; convoy drivers of most political office holders are no longer tail-gating and driving oppressively; the vehicle conditions are perfect; drivers do not get fatigued anymore and we now have more caring pedestrians. I admit that human factor can be associated with about 50 percent of why road crashes occur, but definitely not all are due to speeding above limits. In any case, inaccurate statistics should not be an issue because even if speeding too fast causes 10 percent of road deaths, it deserves prompt national attention because one preventable road death is unnecessary.

    Specifically, I have read views of persons that have thrust the blame of the non approval of speed limiter to the doorsteps of Rep. Phillip Shaibu (APC-Edo) and Rep. Onyemaechi Mrakpor (PDP-Delta) because they championed the objection on the implementation. Unfortunately, these seeming advocates of speed limiter have not done justice to their matter as they have failed to advance any credible or superior logic on why speed control is important and can be achieved through the speed limiter initiative. Indeed, this is why one may be tempted to consider the action of the honourable members as triumph of rationality and responsibility over complacency. Let me state herein that in a contentious matter where information is deficient or is lacking, even the best judge cannot manufacture evidence rather he will be compelled to rely on the facts before him to pass judgement. That actually was what happened recently at the Federal House of Representatives when its honourable members conducted their task as true representatives of the Nigerian people by asking the FRSC’s management to stay action until it truly justifies why such a policy should not be cancelled.

     

    • Phrank Shaibu,

    Abuja.

  • Nigeria is not ripe for speed limiters

    Nigeria is not ripe for speed limiters

    The Vehicle Inspection Officers(VIOs) of all the states and FCT should also complement the efforts of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) by embarking on thorough and regular vehicle inspection to ensure they are road worthy, particularly the vehicle tyres, brakes and lights before issuing  road worthiness certificate(within their yard and not on the roads as it is today).

    All said and done, the use of the weapon of environmental analysis and diagnosis is very vital for result – oriented policy formulation and implementation. I strongly advice that the FRSC, Standards Organisation of Nigeria and the Automotive Council of Nigeria (The main parties in the speed limiter project) should call an emergency meeting of all the stakeholders including the Association of driving schools in Nigeria (Umbrella body of driving schools in Nigeria) to brainstorm on the key issues surrounding the implementation of the speed limiters to ensure it doesn’t die prematurely as other policies previously launched (overloading of commercial vehicles, use of safety helmets by motorcyclists, drunk driving, etc).

    In view of the low level of preparedness, inadequate number of speed limiters and maintenance Technicians, low level of public enlightenment coupled with the high cost, I hereby plead that the enforcement date be shifted from June 1 to a later date when the above – mentioned factors would have been reasonably addressed even though we know the commercial vehicle passengers will ultimately pay the price through increased transport fares.

    In addition, it should be noted that tools to circumvent the speed limiters are widely available and easy to install because it operates through electronic sensors and the engine computer which can be easily manipulated. In developed countries, electricity meters are not usually manipulated but you all know the situation in Nigeria of today where even prepaid meters are been manipulated.

    It is possible for manufacturers of commercial vehicles and Trucks to be compelled to install pre – set and unalterable road speed limit right from the factory as a condition for the sale of their vehicles in Nigeria to avoid the need to be compelling buyers to install.

    Adequate and appropriate driver education is much more vital than speed limiter and must, therefore, be emphasised. Driving schools must not compromise the standards of their training. The public and private sector organisations must also release their drivers to go to driving schools for result – oriented theory and practical re – training and capacity building programmes. Speed Limit signs should be installed in the appropriate places on the highways and rural roads with the right monitoring mechanism put in place for the apprehension and prosecution of speed violators even for speeding up to 40km/h where the speed limit sign says drivers should not speed more than 30km/h.

     

    Call for further brainstorming

     

    While I suggest that the June 1 implementation date should be pushed forward, I want the FRSC and her partners in the speed limiter project should in addition to the above – mentioned, take note of the above-mentioned facts for further brainstorming to ensure a more result – oriented implementation of the speed limiting policy in Nigeria.

    I am not an Apostle of doom but the unpleasant and devastating results of the over-rushed new driver licence and the ongoing graduated driver licensing system which have been worrisomely compromised is one of the very fresh examples to further affirm my claims in this article.

     

  • Nigeria not yet ripe for speed limiters

    •Continued from last week

    In view of the above- mentioned factors, there are situations when 50km per hour will constitute over-speeding even though the allowable speed limit may be 80km per hour. In such a situation, the speed limiter will be of no use.  It then boils down to the fact that comprehensive and custom – made Driver Education with unbiased enforcement is the best antidote to over-speeding and other related factors responsible for road traffic crashes and fatalities, with or without the speed limiters.

    Every Driver must be taught the effect of Gravity, Kinetic energy, Inertia, Banking and Centrifugal force on driving. Comprehensive Driver Education on the causes and prevention of road accidents should be emphasised and enforced far above speed limiters.

    8. Though the policy will generate employment opportunities in the areas of programming, installation and maintenance but will the implementation, enforcement and compliance be thorough and effective to make the employment opportunities profitable and sustainable?

    9. The Federal and State Governments must intensify more efforts to improve on road construction, road furnitures and maintenance nationwide.

    10. Unless the security system, particularly on the highways is significantly improved upon, the speed limiter might turn out to be a clog that turns vehicles to prey in the hands of armed robbers and other vandals who will definitely not install speed limiters in their operation vehicles.

    Starting with the transporters, it is advisable that the installation of speed limiters should be extended to other vehicles in Nigeria, including the vehicles owned by government functionaries. Security on the highways must be improved upon both in the day and in the night.

    11. Are the Officers of the Federal Road Safety Commission in all the states and Federal Capital Territory equipped with the equipment for detecting violators of the speed limit while they are far away from the vehicles? Are automatic camera system (CCTV) and automatic number plate recognition devices being installed in strategic locations, particularly the roads where over-speeding is common, to capture the violators, both in the day and night?

    More speed limit signs and safe driving Tips should be erected at regular intervals and occasionally on the road surface nationwide.

    In a nutshell, the introduction of speed limiter in Nigeria is a good step but strict enforcement, monitoring, evaluation and security supports among other strategic decisions must be effectively put in place to ensure that the new speed limit policy is not a white elephant project nor counter-productive in Nigeria. The fact that the expression of interest advert for the supply, installation, maintenance and calibration of speed limiters in Nigeria was just published in The Nation Newspaper on April 21, 2015 when the ultimatum given to commercial vehicles to install same is June 1 is another pointer to the fact that we often put the cart before the horse in policy implementation. The new driver licence scheme was in shambles because it was commenced with inadequate centres which gave room to fraud, bribery, fake licence production, inconveniences and other shortcomings. Over one year after, FRSC is just proposing to establish 71 more centres when the agency ought to have done their mapping before commencing the scheme and the accompanying problems would have been averted.

    •To be continued next week

  • FRSC to enforce use of speed limiters

    From June 1 next year, motorists are expected to have a maximum speed limiter device in their vehicles, to reduce crashes.

    Stakeholders spoke at the weekend in Abuja in a communiqué at the end of a one-day forum on the “National Policy on Maximum Road Speed Limiter for Vehicles”.

    Speaking with reporters, the Corps Marshal and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi, said the commission was empowered to apprehend anyone who violated the speed limit.