The madness called bullion van

In the crash, one was killed and another injured. Immediately, I learnt of this crash, my memory flashed to a similar incident which occurred over 12 years ago near the Wuse market in Abuja involving my humble self as a victim. Although I did not sustain injuries but my Mercedes Benz 200 bought barely few […]

In the crash, one was killed and another injured. Immediately, I learnt of this crash, my memory flashed to a similar incident which occurred over 12 years ago near the Wuse market in Abuja involving my humble self as a victim. Although I did not sustain injuries but my Mercedes Benz 200 bought barely few months was badly damaged by the bullion van. Even when I tailed the van to their branch in Wuse market, neither the operators nor the bank officials apologised to me for the incident.
If you are very familiar with the madness by operators of bullion vans, then you will know that despite the incident they never stopped. The Abeokuta incident equally brought to the fore a discussion I had with the then Force Public Relations Officer, retired Commissioner of Police, Young Arebame on  whether bullion vans were exempted from the laws of the country that guides vehicles and drivers of such vehicles especially with respect to provisions that are today contained in the National Road Traffic Regulations which remains our authority for this topic. He told me that bullion vans are not exempted from obeying the laws of the land and as such must confine their operations to the provisions of the Regulations.
Today, I have chosen to beam my searchlight on bullion van operators who have become killers on our roads. I do not have detail report on the number of crashes   involving bullion vans  or the number of people maimed, killed or injured or even the number of vehicles disfigured by bullion vans. All I have is the Abeokuta incident and my personal experience. Of course, you know that bullion vans are as terrible as some convoys and articulated drivers and I am confident that a vox pop on public perception of these three will certainly prove me right. How are bullion vans supposed to operate?
Like I stated at the onset, bullion vans are not exempted from operating under the provisions of the National Road Traffic Regulations, 2012.What this means is that bullion vans can only operate on our roads on the fulfilment of various the provisions of the regulations such as vehicle registration which I treated about a fortnight ago when I wrote on Number Plate Infraction, drivers licensing, among others. For today’s piece, I would like to recall what the Regulation says in   Part VI titled, VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. Section 36 states that All private and commercial vehicles (including bullion vans) shall as from the commencement of these Regulations have on them Vehicle Identification Number Plates which shall -Be carried by the motor vehicle on two plates which shall conform to the requirements of these regulations; and the number plate shall be fixed-in such a manner that each is not easily detachable; and in an upright position or within 15 degrees of such position. The Regulations states in Section 37- (1)   that The Identification Number Plates carried by a motor vehicle or articulated vehicle shall be displayed on two plates for a motor vehicle and three plates for an articulated vehicle and shall conform as to lettering, numbering and otherwise with the provision set out in figures 1-11 of schedule 5 to these regulations.
The number plates shall in respect of a motor vehicle be fixed, one on the front of the vehicle and the other at the centre or on the off side of the rear of the vehicle or as may be provided by the manufacturer. In respect of a trailer, be fixed one on the front of the vehicle and two at the rear of the trailer in an upright position.c. A motorcycle, one plate shall be fixed in front and one at the rear with the plate having white background but blue lettering for private green lettering for the Federal, State or Local Government, black lettering for the Armed Forces, Paramilitary Service and red lettering for commercial, so that every letter or figure on the plate is up- right and easily distinguishable in the case of the front plate from behind. In the case of the recovery of a semi-trailer, the operator of the prime mover shall be required to ensure that the entire articulated vehicle carries the same identification number in respect of the prime mover and the semi-trailer. Each Identification Number Plate must be reflective and so made that any letter, numeral or other identifying mark displayed on it are legible at day time and at night in clear weather and must be visible and recognizable at a distance of not less than 60 metres by the driver of the immediate following vehicle and in the case of motorcycle at a distance of 30 metres.
Section 38-(1) states that a vehicle shall carry a Vehicle Tag as specified in Form MVA 25 of schedule 5 to these regulations which shall be issued along with the Vehicle Number Plate and shall carry the same number with the plate and be affixed to the rear windscreen. Except as otherwise provided under these regulations,   number plates shall be transferred from one vehicle or trailer to another; Number plates shall be attached to a person and not to a vehicle and that Number Plate shall be returned to the Motor Licensing Authority on sale of a car and the new owner shall obtain new set of number plate; while Proof of Ownership Certificate is mandatory for issuance of new number plates. The same Regulations make it mandatory for such drivers to possess valid driver’s Licence and obey traffic rules and regulations. The fact that that bullion vans transport cash from one point to another does not confer on the vehicle or the driver any special privileges. In fact, no mention is made of bullion vans in the Regulations.
I told you that the Abeokuta incident will remain our reference point because the probable cause of the crash-speed violation and dangerous driving including recklessness is common with all bullion vans. This is in addition to the fact that, bullion van drivers and their operators are grossly rude and arrogant. My only explanation for this tendency is that they think that transporting cash which does not even belong to them from point to point confers special status or privilege on them. They also probably think that having escorts provides some sort of immunity for them to exhibit their madness on the road. But Like I said, the law does not exempt bullion vans from responsible driving neither does its provisions provide immunity for its drivers. Since speed violation or better put, excessive speeding is number one offence associated with bullion vans, I would like to cite the provisions of the same 2012 Regulations which in discussing speed limits in Section 152.- (1) states that; A person shall not drive a vehicle on an public road in excess of the prescribed speed limit provided in schedule 8 to these regulations or as may be published from time to time by the Commission. It further states in sub-section 2, that notwithstanding sub-regulation (1) of this regulation, no person shall drive a vehicle on any public road in excess of the speed limit indicated by an appropriate road traffic sign in respect of that road.