FRSC emphasizes use of rear seatbelts

When the FRSC began the campaign and subsequent enforcement of the use of seatbelts in January 2003, a lot of road users welcomed the programme with mixed feelings. Many motorists and passengers expressed fear, some expressed doubt and deep concern, while several others dismissed it with a wave of the hand, arguing that it was […]

When the FRSC began the campaign and subsequent enforcement of the use of seatbelts in January 2003, a lot of road users welcomed the programme with mixed feelings. Many motorists and passengers expressed fear, some expressed doubt and deep concern, while several others dismissed it with a wave of the hand, arguing that it was just one of those policies of the federal government that would never be adequately enforced.
But when the officers and men of the corps swung into action, their ardent critics were overly proved wrong. Nigerians became very conscious of their safety on the wheels.
A cross section of Nigerians who spoke to Sunday Trust on the benefits of seatbelts agreed that several lives have been saved as a result of the use of seatbelts while a lot more have been lost as a result of disobedience to road safety laws.  They, however, wondered why an average Nigerian is always opposed to innovations and change, no matter how positive they may appear.
“It is unfortunate that Nigerians prefer to learn in a hard way. In this case, although there will be opposition, at the end of the day, the FRSC will always have the upper hand as motorists and passengers will start dancing to their tune, though grudgingly,’’ they said.  
Investigation has revealed that for motorists, the fear of road safety officers and men is the beginning of wisdom. It was also discovered that a lot of motorists whose vehicles did not even have seatbelts were forced to do what was expected of them as the directive on the use of seatbelt became gospel of sorts.     
Corporate organisations were not left out of this road safety struggle as seatbelt consciousness became the policy of many companies. Not a few organisations made it compulsory for their employees to put on seatbelts at all times while on the road on company business.
One of such organisations was Jarander Services Nigeria Limited, which company policy is, No seatbelt, No entry, No exit. In Jarander, this policy is monitored and obeyed to the last command. To ensure compliance, drivers are directed to always fasten their seatbelts before take-off at all times, as well as remind their passengers to do same. Security officers are also instructed to carry out visual inspection on company vehicles.
In a Federal Road Safety Commission’s website on Standard Directive on Seatbelt in Vehicles in Nigeria, monitored by Sunday Trust, Jarander Services’ company directive reads in part, “Security officers should bar any vehicle from leaving or entering the premises until all occupants of the vehicle have complied with the directive. In the premises or worksite, it is the responsibility of safety officers, foremen, supervisors, and indeed, members of line management present to monitor and ensure that everyone in the company-owned vehicles fastens his or her seatbelt.’’  Several other companies have since toed the same line of action, enforcing the use of seatbelts on members of staff.          
But despite the huge success recorded by road safety corps on the use of seatbelts, investigation has revealed that attention is only paid on drivers and passengers in the front seat. Passengers at the rear seat do not see the need to fasten seatbelts while the vehicle is on motion.
Speaking to Sunday Trust at Jabi in Abuja, a transporter, Mr. James Okwuchukwu wondered why passengers at the back seat of moving vehicles would be forced to wear seatbelts. He argued that such passengers are not in any risk of falling off the vehicle in the case of accident.  
“What kind of policy is that? Why should they force passengers at the back seat to wear belts? It is not only inconveniencing, it is dangerous as the passengers sit very close to each other. It is not the same as the front seat. I think the FRSC came up with this policy because they do not know what else to do,’ he said.    
Another motorist, Chief Kolawole Olusegun, however, disagreed with Okwuchukwu, saying that passengers at the rear seat are at the same risk as those in front.
“Do you think that those who manufactured these vehicles were stupid to have added belts at the rear seat? I don’t understand why Nigerians find it difficult to do what is right. The Federal Road Safety Corps should go ahead to enforce the use of rear seatbelts,’’ Olusegun said.  
Worried by the dangerous implication of non-compliance, the FRSC has embarked on another aggressive campaign before eventual enforcement earlier slated to commence on January 2015. According to a source at the FRSC, this action is to inform every Nigerian of the new policy on the road.  
In a document obtained by our reporter,  the FRSC emphasised that its officers and men were determined to achieving the Accra Declaration on 2015, which seeks 50 per cent reduction in road crashes and fatalities; hence, the nationwide awareness campaign on the compulsory use of seatbelts by all occupants of a moving vehicle.
The FRSC further said it decided to slate enough period to create awareness so that  every Nigerian  would be carried along.  
Speaking to our reporter on the new date for enforcement and other issues on the use of rear seatbelt, the corps public education officer, Mr. Imo Etuk said, “Presently, the FRSC has not set any enforcement date for rear seatbelt usage because public enlightenment remains one of our core values towards eliciting appropriate road conduct from motorists.
This is also in line with our operational guidelines and policy thrust. The FRSC has always relied on robust public enlightenment and advocacy to drive all its initiatives for safer road use. You recall that there were several consultations and meetings in Abuja and Lagos with stakeholders in the transport sector before we commenced ongoing nationwide campaign on speed limiters to be installed on all vehicles in the country.
These meetings gave room to endorsement by our partners, including the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and these campaigns as build-up to enforcement, which will commence on June 1, 2015.  
“Still on the rear seatbelt, we have started by utilising the various media platforms such as TV, Radio and newspaper interviews, motor park rallies, courtesy calls, among other strategies for Nigerians to understand the relevance of using rear seatbelts by all occupants of a moving vehicle as captured by Section 126 (1) of The National Road Traffic Regulations (2012) and compliance with Pillar 4 of the United Nations (UN) decade of action on road safety.
“If you also check the highway code you will notice that proper use of the seatbelt by all occupants of a vehicle reduces the severity of injuries arising from a road traffic crash by 50 per cent. In a nutshell, the seatbelt directive is for the good of all.
“This same campaign applies to the compulsory use of child restraints to convey children by parents. We should also note that every child should be strapped to a restraint or seatbelt in the rear seat until he or she attains the age of 12 before sitting in the front seat with the seatbelt properly strapped.’’
Etuk added that as the lead agency in road safety management and traffic administration in Nigeria, the FRSC has renewed its determination to inculcate proper road safety culture among road users in the country. He said the FRSC was determined to fulfill strategic goals, which seek a drastic reduction in road crashes and fatalities.
He further said there was the need to improve road user behaviour through sustained enforcement of road safety laws and standards.
A document from the FRSC obtained by our reporter directs thus, “Vehicle owners are enjoined to ensure that their vehicles are fitted with front and rear seatbelts. In addition, strict compliance with this directive is required in order to ensure sanity on the nation’s highways.’’
The document further revealed that seatbelts and child restraints reduce the risk of contact with the interior of vehicles and the severity of injuries when it occurs. They distribute the forces of a crash over the strongest parts of the human body, prevent occupants from being ejected from the vehicle, as well as prevent injury to other occupants. For example, in a frontal crash, unbelted rear-seated passengers could be thrown forward and hit other occupants in the process.
“Unrestrained rear seat passengers pose a serious threat to restrained persons seated directly ahead of them. But during a crash, belted persons will be kept in their seats, thereby reducing the number of victims. The use of seatbelt for rear seat passengers is therefore very important,’’ the document added.