This summit which is coming on the heels of recent road traffic crashes involving Tankers, has been described by stakeholders in the transport sector, as ideal in the continued efforts by the FRSC to enthrone sanity and decorum in haulage operations in the country. It is slated for 15th June 2015 at the Shehu Musa Y’ardua Centre in Abuja.
Speaking further on the meeting, the FRSC Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi said “ Since 2007 when our findings showed that articulated vehicles accounted for 40% of road traffic crashes, we have not relented in our efforts to reverse this unacceptable trend. We have scaled up our engagement plans with stakeholders in the haulage industry and set out minimum safety standards for the conveyance of wet and dry cargoes to any part of the country, in line with the provisions of the National Road Traffic Regulations, 2012”
According to the Corps Marshal, “ we are worried over the recent crashes involving these operators which resulted to monumental loss of human resources and attendant negative impact of the nation’s socio-economic growth and that is why the summit is coming up to complement other numerous programmes which the Corps has organized with haulage operators to reduce these avoidable road crashes” he said.
Speaking further, he added “ As lead agency in road traffic administration, we have also conducted a study on the 44 Tank farms and their locations, with the hope of coming up with policies backed up with stronger legal frame work to checkmate the excesses of Tanker drivers in addition to strategies for safer road use. This will form part of the meeting with haulage operators”
He however stated that part of on-going collaboration with the Petroleum Tanker Drivers branch of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG-PTD) is to scale up public education for petrol tanker drivers against reckless driving and disregard for road traffic regulations, retraining of drivers, solicit for government support on fleet renewals, alcohol and drug testing for all tanker drivers at the loading bay by officers of the FRSC and establishment of resting points for these checks.
The Federal Road Safety Corps also resolved with NUPENG-PTD to enforce the inspection of all Trucks for speed limiters with effect from 1st September 2015, before loading petroleum products from any of the depots across Nigeria, in addition to ensuring road worthiness of vehicles (Trucks) under a safe- to- load programme in all depots.
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