COVID-19: FRSC, transport unions to enforce protocols in parks

Sequel to the lift of interstate travel ban, the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Road Transport Unions yesterday agreed to enforce COVID-19 protocols in parks nationwide,

FRSC Corps Marshal Dr Boboye Oyeyemi at a virtual meeting in Abuja, said that it was important for all stakeholders in the road transport sector to chart the course on the way forward.

Oyeyemi asked vehicle owners to let their drivers know that the lift of interstate travel ban was not a warranty to violate legal speed limits.

In jointly signed resolution document by the stakeholders in the transport sector yesterday in Abuja after the meeting, all stakeholders agreed to various sitting adjustments ranging from 75 to 50 percent reduction from the usual number of people being carried in the vehicles before the pandemic.

The adjustment revealed that a 13-seater Hiace bus has a 69 percent adjustment of passengers, 10-seater Hiace short bus has a 70 percent adjustment, seven-seater bus has a 71 percent adjustment, four-seater bus has 75 percent adjustment; while luxury buses have a 50 percent adjustment.

It was agreed that all vehicles turn off their air conditioners and rather have their windows open for proper ventilation during their journey.

The stakeholders agreed that all public transport operators should sanitise their parks and terminals regularly before and after every trip especially areas where people stay often.

It was also agreed that the transport unions and owners should provide alcohol-based sanitisers for use at terminal and in-vehicles, facemask as well as the provision of temperature readers to check on all persons gaining access to the premises.

The stakeholders also agreed to have a protective barriers in designated areas around the operating terminals adding that they should adopt the electronic payment of fares as the use of cash encourages breach of social distance measures.

It was also agreed that there should be mobile courts to assist in the enforcement of compliance to the protocol.

Oyeyemi urged all transports owners and unions to brace up to the reality and ensure strict compliance in disinfecting of terminals and luggage of passengers, free hand sanitising and hand wash unit, avoid overload and maintain social distance in the vehicle.

He stressed that the implications of the guideline was that the capacity of passengers to be conveyed by commercial buses was to be reduced by 50 percent; while salon cars would carry one passenger in the front and two at the back.