The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has pegged the speed limit of trucks and cars at 80 and 120 kilometres per hour (Kph), with effect from January 1, 2017.

This move, it said is a way of reducing the rate of auto crashes and its attendant deaths on roads and highways in the country.

Borno State Sector Commander of FRSC, Shehu Iliyasu, made the disclosure in Maiduguri, in an interactive session with journalists on the implementation and the imperative of installing speed limiters in vehicles in the state.

Iliyasu, who said most auto crashes in the state were as a result of over speeding added: “The death of 24 people last July at Benisheikh town could have been avoided, if the bus had a speed limiter installed. The driver was on top speed, but he could not negotiate the 45 degree angle road into the town, before crashing to kill 25 people with 16 others injured.”

The sector commander said that when a driver is on top speed, there is a tendency for tyre burst and veering off the road or highway to crash into a ditch, or side tree and buildings.

“These are what we want to avoid on our roads and highways with these speed limiters for drivers to travel, or commute within a maximum speed of 80-120kph,” said the sector commander.