By Correspondent in Abuja.
The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, has commiserated with the families of the victims of the fatal road crash that occurred around Bagauda Law School on Kano-Zaria expressway.
He has also ordered Commanding Officers to, with immediate effect, step up enforcement on the installation of speed limiting device by commercial vehicle operators nationwide.
The Corps Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem, disclosed this in a release he signed and a copy made available to The Reporters,an online publication on Saturday.
According to the FRSC boss, the order is to further intensify the implementation of the Presidential directives of 2016 on all round enforcement on compulsory installation of speed limiting devices by commercial vehicles across board.
Oyeyemi, who expressed deep concern over the ugly incident and the loss of precious lives, stated that bringing to an end, speed related crashes “is one of the cardinal strategic goals the Corps intends to achieve this year.”
He said in achieving the objective, the urgent need to clampdown on the driver’s of commercial vehicles who refused to comply with the policy on installation of speed limiting device could not be overemphasized.
Oyeyemi stated that eradicating speed limited crashes from the highways had been the major focus of his administration since he assumed office, adding the Corps had continually carried out with all sense of responsibility and commitment, the Presidential directives issued on clamping down on excessive speed.
‘That is why the Corps has put up several policies and enforcement strategies, including the compulsory installation of speed limiting device, which commenced with commercial vehicles.
“Most of these crashes are highly avoidable, only that most drivers and other road users do not harken to the training, sensitisation, and enlightenment programmes that the Corps has continually put in place to mitigate road mishap.
” As the lead Agency in road safety administration and traffic management, we shall continue to strategically deploy the combination of operational and public education tools and personnel to ensure that road users are properly enlightened and checkmated for the safety of all” he said.
The Corps Marshal, therefore, called on all road users to religiously adhere, at all times, to all established traffic rules and endeavour to listen to the National Traffic Radio 107.1 FM for real time traffic update, road safety education and others that could entrench safe road use culture.
Kazeem said that preliminary reports from the crash investigation team revealed that the unfortunate, fatal but avoidable crash,which occurred as a result of speed limit violation, involved two Toyota Busses with registration number KBT 152 XA and NSR 275 ZX,conveying 45 passengers as at the time of the crash.
He added that out of the number, 26 got injured while 19, comprising 15 male adults and 4 female adults lost their lives.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
