As FRSC Prepares to Enforce Speed Limiter Policy
As the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) preparestoimplementthepolicy that compels all commercial vehicle owners to install speed limiting devices in their vehicles, a crucial question being asked is whether some accidents could have been less deadly if a speed limiting device had been installed.
This is same question that is being asked of all the high-profile casualties and of other unmarked deaths that had over-speeding as contributory factor.
In Nigeria, the speed regulation approves limits for specific vehicle types for designated areas: Cars have speed limit of of 50 KmH in built-up areas; Highways, 80 KmH; Express, 100 KmH; Taxi and Buses, 50; 80; and 90 KmH; Tankers/ Trailers, 45; 50; and 60 KmH.
Speed thrills but it definitely kills. Regular drivers would say nobody plans to drive over 100kmH but once the road is smooth, windows are up and the vehicle settles into and grips the road and leaps at the touch of the throttle, then the temptation sets in to give it more fuel. It is like feeding an insatiable beast.
The thrill could be cut short either by a corider’s warning, if there is one or by an obstacle ahead or by the driver’s own nagging thoughts that the s/he is going too fast or if something happens that leads to other consequences; one of them death.
Statistics show that speed is a key risk factor in road traffic injuries and it influences both the risk of a road crash as well as the severity of the injuries that result from crashes. Speed increases driver’s response time to objects and increases risk of collision. It reduces the driver’s ability to steer safely and around curves and objects on the roads, as well as extends the distance necessary to stop a vehicle. It also increases the distance a vehicle travels while the driver reacts to a dangerous situation.
Drivers always plan to have a smooth journey, even when they take off late and want to arrive at their destinations early. They usually set the speed limit, in their minds, and this hardly goes beyond the recommended 100KmH or 120KmH, maximum.
Regrettably, very few drivers keep this promise, which is why it is important to have a device that can remind them that they are going off limit.
Next month, the Federal Road Safety Commis- sion (FRSC) intends to enforce the installation of speed limiting device on commercial vehicles and, then the enforcement would move to private vehicles.
Some people have kicked against the cost of the device and the threshold for installation, but not against its function or its importance to the wellbeing of drivers and their co-travellers.
Ahead of this enforcement date, drivers of diverscommercialtransportcompaniesinJibowu, Yaba, Ojota, Ijora and Oyingbo, all in Lagos, understand the importance of speed limiting devices in their vehicles but want the period of installation extended and the cost reduced.
Interestingly, all of them said they liked it and would like their principals to install them in their vehicles. A driver with Efex said they already had in their vehicles, explaining that it checks the speed of drivers on the fleet. “Once you hear the bell ring then you know you have to slow down until it stops,” he said.
However, drivers of three transport companies at Oyingbo, Ijora and Ojota, respectively said they wanted it but that it was too expensive, adding that it would increase their operational costs.
According to a driver,Adamu Maina who said he goes to Zaria through Kaduna, “the device is good, but it is expensive. Let them give us and we pay in installments.
He also recommended that the sellers of the device should relate with their union.
Speed Limiting Device…
Speed limiting device also called speed limiter or governor is used to limit the top speed of a vehicle by not allowing the vehicle to accelerate beyond pre-set speed limit.
Implementing the speed limit device policy will have socio-economic advantages besides saving lives.
It has been known that lower speed results in less fuel consumption by vehicles. Lower speed also cuts down vehicle maintenance cost and slows down depreciation value thus vehicle last longer. It will significantly impact positively in changing the individual driving behaviour, which has been hard to achieve over the years. It will reduce the speed of vehicle to pre-set limit thus reducing overall crash risk and likely to lessen severity of crash. It will equally engender good monitoring mechanism for vehicle owners’/ fleet operators.Also, it will engender compliance with the ECOWAS mandate, fulfillment of the Corps statutory functions through good practice.