‘Installation of speed limit device in vehicles will reduce road crash’

The Petroleum Tankers’ Drivers (PTD), Road Transport Employers of Nigeria (RTEAN),  Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW)have thrown their weight behind the implementation of the speed limiter installation for vehicles in Nigeria. The group said the device, when installed, would lower the high rate of […]

The Petroleum Tankers’ Drivers (PTD), Road Transport Employers of Nigeria (RTEAN),  Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW)have thrown their weight behind the implementation of the speed limiter installation for vehicles in Nigeria.
The group said the device, when installed, would lower the high rate of road crashes on Nigerian roads.
“If you consider that the rate of road accidents which has now doubled over the last 3 years is largely occasioned by bad speed alone, then it is necessary for something drastic to be done”, a statement signed on behalf of the groups by the Chairman of PTD-NUPENG, Mr. Salimonu Oladiti, said.
The statement said:  “That is why FRSC, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) formerly National Automotive Council (NAC) and key stakeholders in the transportation industry embarked on a wide study, and eventually concluded on the suitability of speed limiter installation for our vehicles.
“We want the Honourable House members to show compassion for the carnage of human lives on our roads, and see to allowing this novel initiative work. Our members are breadwinners of their various homes and we have lost one too many, but some of them who have fitted the devices have been relaying their positive experiences in recent times”.
It said though doubts have persisted about the ability of the speed limiter installation in-vehicle to further reduce road crashes, studies have shown that since the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), for instance, enforced use of seat belts in vehicles and helmets in motorcycles, death risk has reduced by 61% in vehicles and head injury has reduced by 70% for motorcyclists. 
The implementation of the safety speed limiters on Nigerian highways had been scheduled to take off by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) by April 1, 2016, but House of Representatives members kicked against it.