The madness of bullion vans

As at last week when I wrote this piece reactions had trailed it. While some commended the write-up with a reader describing bullion van drivers as indeed killers, Suleiman Sani Bala, however, felt differently as he said: “I believe that you are an official of the FRSC and you are in a position to speak […]

As at last week when I wrote this piece reactions had trailed it. While some commended the write-up with a reader describing bullion van drivers as indeed killers, Suleiman Sani Bala, however, felt differently as he said: “I believe that you are an official of the FRSC and you are in a position to speak on this issue. What is the position of the commission on this menace called bullion van,” he asked, noting that “in your write up, you seem to be lamenting rather than proffering solution or the official position of the commission in respect of the subject.”
I believe that the Commission’s head of media is reading this and would gladly respond to this concern raised by my brother Suleiman. Meanwhile, I wish to state clearly that when I set out to do this piece my focus was to provide appropriate information as contained in the regulations to prove that bullion vans like every other road users must drive by the rules. That said, I can bet that based on commentaries and observations, not one bullion van driver obeys the speed limit set for their operations; a challenge which I believe the Commission must tackle through training and retraining and also through strict enforcement.
No doubt, with the ongoing flying ticket campaign by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) meant to track speed limit infraction, bullion van drivers I dare say, would populate the commissions offenders’ database alongside other deadly drivers such as convey drivers. I am also confident that the June 1, 2015 enforcement deadline for the use of speed limiters will tame these operators.
There are however, exceptions made in the regulations, especially for security operatives and emergency service providers although with specific guidance. In section 153, it states that notwithstanding the provision of sub-section (1) and (2) of section 152 of these regulation, the driver of a fire fighting vehicle, a rescue vehicle or an ambulance…or an officer of the law who drives a vehicle while carrying out his duties or any person driving a vehicle while engaged in civil protection may exceed the prescribed speed limit provided that he drives the vehicle concerned with due regard to the safety of other road users.  
In the case of any such fire-fighting vehicle, rescue vehicle, ambulance or vehicle driven by a person while he is engaged in civil protection, such vehicle shall be fitted with a device capable of emitting a sound and with an identification lamp, as prescribed by the commission and such sound must be sounded and the lamp must be in operation while the vehicle is driven in excess of the applicable speed limit. I will skip the abuse of the use of siren for another day even though the recent visit of the Corps Marshal and chief executive of FRSC to the Inspector General of Police and the concern raised over this trend by both excites me.
In section 167(1), the regulations address the second sore mannerisms of bullion van drivers which are dangerous or reckless driving. It states clearly that a person who drives or operates a vehicle on a public road dangerously or recklessly commit an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine or to a term of two years imprisonment or both. Dangerous or  reckless driving according to the regulations includes (a) causing such vehicle to travel backwards unless it can be done in safety, or cause it to run backwards for a distance or time longer than may be necessary for turning or other reasonable purpose, following another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent having regard to the speed of such other vehicle and the condition of the road, or more closely than is prescribed in the regulations and driving a vehicle between sunset and sunrise without the use of lighted lamps in addition to permitting any person, animal or object to occupy any position in or on such vehicle which may prevent the driver thereof from exercising complete control over the movements of the vehicle or signaling his intention of stopping, slowing down or changing direction.
Dangerous driving is also seen as a situation where when driving such vehicle, the driver permits any person to take hold of or interfere with the steering or operating mechanism of the vehicle, or when driving such vehicle, occupy such position that he does not have complete control over the vehicle or does not have a full view of the road ahead of such vehicle. It also includes leaving the vehicle unattended on any public road with the engine running or quit the vehicle without having applied its brakes or adopting such other method as will effectively prevent the vehicle from moving from the position in which it is left and without taking precaution against the vehicle being started in his absence leaving the vehicle if demobilised or broken down, on any public road except at the right or nearside or shoulder of the road and in such case is also referred to as dangerous or reckless driving. There are other examples such as sleeping while driving a vehicle that must be avoided by a driver.
Cause such vehicle to bear lighted lamps at the front and rear of the vehicle between sunset and sunrise; (i) permitting any person to ride on the wings, running boards, fender, or sides of the vehicle except for the purpose of testing the vehicle during repairs; (j) permitting, in the case of a commercial vehicle, any person to ride on the steps, tail-board, or roof of the vehicle nor on any load or freight on the vehicle or on any trailer drawn thereby; it goes further explains it to include in (k); where a vehicle is being drawn by another vehicle, permitting any person to be carried in the vehicle being drawn except the person in charge; (l) if such vehicle is parked or is stationary at the side of the public road, driving the vehicle from that position unless he is able to do so without interfering with vehicles approaching from any direction and with safety to himself and other road users; (m) allowing any portion of his body to protrude beyond such vehicle while it is in motion on public road except for the purpose of giving any hand signal which he is required or authorised to give in terms of these regulation or unless he is engaged in examining or testing such vehicle; (n) causing or allowing the vehicle thereof to run in such manner that it emits excessive gas or fumes which would not be emitted if the engine were in good condition or ran in an efficient manner; (o) negligently or wilfully depositing or causing or permitting to be deposited any petrol or other liquid fuel or any oil or grease or other flammable or offensive matter, ashes or other refuse, of whatever nature, from such vehicle upon or alongside a public road; (p) causing or allowing the engine thereof to run while petrol or other flammable fuel is being delivered into the fuel tank of such vehicle or cause or allow such engine to be started up on before the delivery of the petrol or other flammable fuel into the fuel tank of such vehicle has been completed and the cover of such fuel tank has been replaced; (q) be asleep while driving or in control of a vehicle.