*Orders intensification of clampdown on speed limit violators
By BASHIR ADEFAKA
The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, has commiserated with families of victims of the ill-fated fatal crash that occurred around Bagauda Law School, on Kano-Zaria expressway and also ordered Commanding Officers to step up enforcement on the installation of speed limiting device by commercial vehicles’ operators nationwide.
This, he said, must be with immediate effect, according to a statement issued in Abuja and copy of which was sent to The DEFENDER by the Corps’ Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem.
According to Dr. Oyeyemi, the order is to further intensify the implementation of the Presidential directives of 2016 on all round enforcement on compulsory installation of speed limiting devices by commercial vehicles across board.
Oyeyemi, who expressed deep concern over the ugly incident and the loss of precious lives that followed, stated that bringing to an end speed related crashes is one of the cardinal strategic goals the Corps intends to achieve this year, hence the urgent need to clampdown on commercial vehicle operators, who refuse to comply with the policy on installation of speed limit device.
In the Bisi Kazeem’s statement, preliminary reports from the crash investigation team revealed that the unfortunate, fatal but avoidable crash, which occurred as a result of speed limit violation, involved two Toyota busses with registration numbers KBT 152 XA and NSR 275 ZX.
The two vehicles conveyed a total of 45 passengers as at the time of the crash. Out of the 45 passengers, 26 were injured while 19 comprising of 15 male adults and 4 female adults were killed.
While commiserating with families of the deceased and other victims, Oyeyemi stated that eradicating speed limited crashes from the highways has been the major focus since his assumption of office as the Corps Marshal.
Explaining further, he stated that the Corps has continually carried out with all sense of responsibility and commitment, the Presidential directives issued on clamping down on excessive speed, that is why the Corps has put up several policies and enforcement strategies among which include the compulsory installation of speed limiting device which commenced with commercial vehicles.
According to the Corps Marshal, “most of these crashes are highly avoidable, only that most drivers and other road users do not harken to the training, sensitisation, and enlightenment programmes that the Corps has continually put in place to mitigate road mishap.
“As the lead Agency in road safety administration and traffic management, we shall continue to strategically deploy the combination of operational and public education tools and personnel to ensure that road users are properly enlightened and checkmated for the safety of all,” he added.
The Corps Marshal therefore called on all road users to religiously adhere at all times to all established traffic rules and endeavour to listen to the National Traffic Radio 107.1 FM for real time traffic update, road safety education and others that could entrench safe road use culture.
