The House of Representative has urged the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) to ensure strict enforcement of laws that prohibit latching on long articulated vehicles.
This was sequel to a motion titled "Calling the FRSC to Enforce Regulation on Latching of Long Vehicles Carrying Containers on Nigerian Roads’’.
The sponsor of the motion, Rep. Mojeed Alabi (Osun-APC) expressed concern that the neglect by drivers of articulated vehicles and trailers to properly latch their long vehicles while carrying items on them has frequently led to accidents on the roads.
Alabi, who expressed worry that the trend had led to loss of lives and property, canvassed for defaulters to have their vehicles impounded.
According to the lawmaker, Sections (5) and (10) of the FRSC Act and the National Road Traffic Regulations provides for latching of long articulated vehicles and that defaulting companies, transporters and drivers should have their vehicles impounded and prosecuted.
But despite the above provision, drivers and owners of articulated and long vehicles continue to default, thereby endangering other motorists,’’ he added.
Alabi added that despite several attempts by some state governments to enforce regulation, ``records show that these containerized trucks and petroleum tankers continue to wreck havoc on Nigerian roads.
"They account for half of the over 200 deaths by accident on Lagos roads recorded in the quarter of year 2016 given that Lagos houses the highest number of articulated and long vehicles in the country,’’ Alabi lamented.
He stressed that lack of enforcement of the laws on latching of long articulated vehicles continuously affected and disrupted the social and economic activities on the roads.
Contributing to the debate, Rep. Daniel Henry (Bayelsa-PDP) said that the FRSC had turned into money making one instead of prosecuting defaulters.
According to him, officials of the FRSC concentrate on demanding for things like triangle, spare tires and vehicle licence whereas they pay less attention to vehicles that park indiscriminately along the roads posing dangers to other road users.
The motion was adopted and referred to the motion to the House Committee on FRSC to interface with the Directorate of Motor Vehicle Administration to address the concern and report back within four weeks.
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