In about seventy two hours or less from today, the Federal Road Safety Corps will commence full enforcement of the compulsory use of speed limiting devices meant to address the increasing speed related road traffic crashes in the Country. Excessive speed remains the number one causative factor accounting for about 50percent of reported road traffic crashes in the Country. The sept 1,2015 enforcement date was agreed by the FRSC and its strategic partners who appealed for a shift in the enforcement date from June 1, to September 1,2015 to enable them embark on adequate awareness as agreed during a one day stakeholders Forum held in Abuja .

The Forum had also agreed for FRSC and its partners to embark on massive awareness to secure public buy in, government to set deadline for all imported vehicles and those manufactured in Nigeria to have speed limiters installed ,while SON should demand in-plant calibration certificate from manufacturers of speed limiting devices meant for use in Nigeria among others. The shift was equally to enable other logistics necessary for a successful implementation to be put in place by partners such as SON, National Automotive Council of Nigeria and FRSC among others.

Since the shift in date ,series of events and machineries have been put in place to ensure a smooth sail for the scheme which if properly implemented by the Corps and its strategic partners and supported by the motoring public, should result in about 30percent crash reduction going by the fact that commercial vehicles presently account for over 30percent of crashes and 40percent of deaths .When the next phase involving other categories of vehicles such as private cars, takes off, another level of reduction may be achieved so long as all the loopholes are plugged .

The events which took place include series of consultation between FRSC and its partner such as NUPENG/PTD,NARTO and NURTW.There were also advocacies such as the sponsored Total Nigeria awareness campaign held in the Federal Capital Territory during which about 30 vehicles were installed with speed limiters as a demonstration of the Corporate Social Responsibility of Total .Across the country similar events were held including ongoing advocacies by the FRSC formations.

But after the shift in enforcement strategy, have we really addressed all the issues that was responsible for the shift?.Have the strategic partners and the FRSC truly embarked on the kind of awareness that would drive the needed buy in? Are Nigerians now adequately schooled on all they need to know about the speed limiter? Have the vendors, some of whom have been in the business hatched in on this novelty to creatively educate the public and have FRSC done enough in raising public awareness? I will rely on one of the several interactions from some of my readers to answer the posers raised on where we are and what we need to do to ensure hiccups are addressed.
Just last week ,I got a text from one reader, who expressed concern on the numerous questions being asked by motorists who have no doubt demonstrated willingness to partner with the FRSC in addressing the issue of speed. Some of these motorists are private car owners who despite the fact that enforcement will begin with commercial vehicles are willing to commence installation in their private privates to guard against unnecessary deaths or crashes.

This is how my friend captured his concern on the issue, ‘Dear Jonas, let me start by appreciating you efforts in raiding awareness through your numerous write-ups which I have passionately followed since you started with the Sun Newspaper and Leadership Newspaper as far back as 2008 when you were still in Abuja as the Sector Commander,FCT.Let me however draw your attention to the soon to be enforced speed limiting device which I acknowledge will go a long way in addressing excessive speeding which has caused so much pains to families and the nation at large.

As one whose passion for safer roads no bounds, I must inform you that I am daily in touch with concerned Nigerians who have wondered if truly you hope to enforce by September 1, as reported in the dailies .I have no issues with that date .But please I need you to please provide me the details of the vendors and their spread across the country, their capacities, the cost for installation and how long it takes to install a limiter in one vehicle. I also need to know how much training your men have gone through to equip them with the skills and knowledge for detecting tampering of installed systems as was the case in places like Kenya.

These questions are necessary because I know that the success of these schemes lies in adequate preparation through well orchestrated awareness that will address all the grey areas. As you and your colleagues work towards making our roads truly safe, please kindly rethink and ensure you guys do what you did with the seat belt campaigns which succeeded because you took time to embark on nationwide awareness such that even before you commenced enforcement over 12years ago, every motorists in the Country knew the importance.

As we ponder on the issues raised by this reader, I am excited that some of the fleet operators and transport organizations have expressed their willingness to comply with the September 1,2015 deadline by installing the required limiter which conforms to specifications as contained in the approved standards by the Standards Organization of Nigeria.

Source: ThisDay

Let's see how it goes.