The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), says it is collaborating with other traffic management agencies towards minimising road crashes involving container trucks.
A statement by the Public Education Officer, Lagos Sector Command, FRSC, Olabisi Sonusi, quoted the Sector Commander, Olusegun Ogungbemide, as saying that the Corps had begun sensitising truck drivers on minimum safety standards.
Ogungbemide also decried the perennial crashes involving trucks in a sensitisation exercise that kicked off in Lagos on Monday.
Among the collaborating partners are the Amalgamation of Container Truck Owners Association of Nigeria (ACTOAN); the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA); the Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS); and the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA).
The FRSC Commander particularly regretted the January 30 crash involving a containerised truck which fell on a mini bus, killing nine persons, and urged truck owners and drivers to ensure their trucks met minimum safety standards at all times.
He urged them to ensure the trucks had functional headlamps, brake lights, horns, side and inner mirrors, and functional twist locks, and also urged them to ensure continuous maintenance of the vehicles.
“Drivers should also ensure they have licence and genuine vehicle documents. They should avoid speeding, overloading, drunk driving and avoid drugs,” Ogungbemide added and appealed to drivers to always have adequate rest.
The Chairman of ACTOAN, Rilwan Bello, appreciated the traffic management agencies for their deep interest in safety, saying the campaign was organised to offer solutions towards curbing rising cases of truck crashes.
He appealed to the Lagos government to look into the menace of “Area boys” who usually attack truck drivers.
Drivers should also ensure they have licence and genuine vehicle documents. They should avoid speeding, overloading, drunk driving and avoid drugs.
