Rivers, Enugu, Kogi top list of speed limiting device compliance – FRSC

Rivers, Enugu and Kogi states rank highest in compliance with the Speed Limiting Device installation, after six days of commencement of its advisory enforcement by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).

The Corps Marshal of the commission, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, disclosed this while interacting with newsmen in Abuja on Friday.

Oyeyemi said that out of the 22,908 vehicles checked nationwide, 1,164 had the device installed, while 21,744 were yet to comply.

He said that among the 1,164 vehicles that complied, Rivers had the highest number of 170, while Enugu had 165 and Kogi had 100.

He said that Kano, Jigawa, Adamawa, Taraba, Niger,Kebbi, and Yobe states had no vehicle with the device installed.

“With effect from Oct. 1, we commenced the advisory enforcement as agreed with stakeholders and since then, we have checked 22,908 and issued out citations tickets to 21,744 offenders with a warning.

“This was done to allow tolerance, imagine if I had impounded 21,000 vehicles now.

“Because of the prevailing economic situation, we agreed to give them a two-week warning and then after two weeks, we can take action .

“With what I have seen within the last one week, I must appreciate the support of road users toward implementing road safety programmes in Nigeria; I have seen the level of enthusiasm.

“Some organisations are asking for two-month waver to enable them to complete the importation of the device because FRSC is not involved in the marketing of the device.

“ Two companies are already bringing equipment to commence local production and I just received a letter to commission it by the end of next month, so am excited,’’ the corps marshal said.

Oyeyemi expressed optism that with consistent advocacy, total compliance would be achieved ,adding that the essence of the device was to reduce speed .

He said the plan still remained to start with commercial vehicles plying the highways, adding that vehicles’ speed would be locked by the device at the right limit allowed by law.

He said this would prevent drivers from exceeding the speed limit.

“The stipulated speed for mini buses, for example, would be locked at 90 but there would be a tolerance for 95 to 97.

“People say drivers are complaining that the device is expensive but we should not compromise on safety values.

“ We need to tell ourselves the truth; you buy a vehicle of N40 million, a tanker costs about N60 million naira, Hummer Toyota hiace bus is about N15 million.

“Then, you are to install speed limiting device or calibrate your vehicle and you pay betweenN 20,000 and N30,000, if you run cost benefit analysis, I don’t think that is too much,” the corps marshal said.