The Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) has called on transport workers to embrace the Pre and Post-Crash Initiative for the Road Transportation Sector.

The initiative, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Transportation and stakeholders, aims to reduce road traffic crashes and ensure victims receive attention quickly.

The association, in a statement signed by its President, Musa Maitakobi, and National Secretary, Comrade Yusuf Adeniyi, yesterday, said the directive was towards the fulfilment of the dictate of the United Nations Decade of Action on Road Safety 2021-2030, which aims at reducing deaths due to Road Traffic Crashes by 50 per cent before the year 2030.

The union lamented that every year in Nigeria, Road Traffic Crashes (RTC) and accidents claim thousands of lives and cause varying degrees of bodily harm to many people.

It noted that, on many occasions, victims of road accidents are left unattended at the point of the crash, thereby reducing their chances of survival. He added also that many of the survivors are made to pay a huge sum of money for their medical and emergency treatment.

“As such, in a bid to address this problem, the Federal Ministry of Transportation, in collaboration with stakeholders in the transportation sector, has fully commenced the implementation of the Pre and Post-Crash Initiative for the Road Transportation Sector in Nigeria,” the statement said.

The organisation disclosed that the initiative seeks to ensure that all vehicles, whether private or commercial, acquire lifesaving tools and skills in accordance with the National Road Traffic Regulation (NRTR) 2012 and the Nigerian Highway Code.

It added: “The Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), empowered by its establishing Act, is mandating all commercial transport vehicles (inter and intra-state) to ensure the safety and security of all passengers and commuters by registering their vehicles under the Pre and Post-Crash Initiative for the Road Transportation Sector in Nigeria, especially during this festive period that records high volumes of passengers’ movement across the country, as well as a high rate of casualties involved in RTC/accidents.

“This is to ensure that all passengers and commuters are well-protected and secured while in transit through the benefits attached to the Pre and Post-Crash Initiative for the Road Transportation Sector in Nigeria.”

RTEAN is partnering with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Police Force, and Directorate of Road Traffic Services (VIO) to ensure maximum compliance.

The union warned that any commercial vehicle that does not comply with the directive by November 2024 shall be arrested and fined.

“RTEAN shall also advocate through all relevant mediums that members of the public should not patronise any unregistered vehicle for their own safety and security,” it added.

The organisation listed some importance of the initiative, which included the acquisition of standardised and recommended vehicle First Aid Kits as stipulated by the National Road Traffic Regulation (NRTR) 2012 and the Nigerian Highway Code.

It said the Vehicle First Aid Kit is to help first responders attend to RTC/accident victims in order to give them a fighting chance at life before the emergency response unit arrives.

It added that there would also be death benefit coverage of N1.5 million for each occupant of the registered vehicle, with medical and emergency treatment coverage of N1 million for each occupant of the registered vehicle.