Implementation of the Speed Limiting Device
Introduction:
Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) as the Lead Government Agency saddled with the responsibility of Road Traffic Management in Nigeria has identified speeding as a major contributing factor to road crashes and attendant casualties in Nigeria. To create a safer motoring environment in Nigeria, Federal Road Safety Commission; in line with the resolutions reached with Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), National Automotive Design and Development Council of Nigeria (NADDC), Transport Union Associations and other stakeholders, had initiated strategies to implement and enforce the use of Speed Limiting devices in vehicles starting with commercial vehicles, nationwide. The legal frame work for the implementation and enforcement of speed limiter for all categories of vehicles in Nigeria is stipulated in section 10(3) (m) of the FRSC (Est.) Act, 2007 and section 152(4) of National Road Traffic Regulations, 2012. Section 4 (b) of the Standards Organization of Nigeria Act of 1971 empowers the SON “to designate, establish and approve standards in respect of metrology, materials, commodities, structures and processes for the certification of products in commerce and industry throughout Nigeria”. In the same vein, the National Automotive Design and Development Council Act, 2014 empowers the National Automotive Development and Design Council to “Regularly study and review the automotive parts/ components development industry in Nigeria”.
Disturbed by the trend of road traffic crashes and fatality attributed to speeding, the FRSC, SON and NADDC have taken bold strides in collaboration with other stakeholders, to raise public consciousness on the relevance of the speed limiters. After series of consultations and advocacies and setting of standards by the three agencies as well as a transparent selection process, 16 Vendors were accredited in the 1st instance to import and instal speed limiting devices on vehicles in Nigeria. Please visit www.frsc.gov,ng for details of accredited service providers.
In line with the change mantra and government’s concern for the well being and safety of its citizens, President, Muhammadu Buhari has approved 1st April, 2016 as the enforcement date on the implementation of speed limiting devices on vehicles. The 1st phase will focus on commercial vehicles and fleet of long haulage vehicles.
As part of the strategy towards ensuring the execution of the policy, the FRSC in conjunction with all the relevant stakeholders and the media, would commence massive public enlightenment to raise awareness amongst the general public. This would be followed up with pre enforcement patrols by FRSC from 01 February to 31 March, 2016, where patrol operatives would stop and check vehicles without speed limiters and advise such vehicle owners to fix the device on their vehicles. The period would also be used to assess the efficacy of the speed limiters installed in vehicles already having speed limiting devices.
All vehicle owners, fleet operators, Ministries, Departments and Agencies especially commercial vehicle operators, are hereby enjoined to align with this life-saving initiative by ensuring the installation of speed limiters on their vehicles to curb the wanton carnage on our roads and to avoid arrest and resulting sanctions.
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