The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has said it will start impounding haulage trucks conveying passengers.
The Sector Commander in Kaduna State, Mr. Zubairu Mato said this in Kaduna at a stakeholders’ engagement on rising fatalities involving haulage trucks carrying passengers.
The theme of the event was “Reducing Road Traffic Crashes Through Stakeholders Engagement”.
He emphasized that haulage trucks were meant for the conveyance of goods, as such the corps would also prosecute truck owners and drivers conveying passengers.
“Any vehicle arrested, the passengers will be dropped to find another means to take them to their destinations and the driver would be sanctioned accordingly.
“The Corps henceforth, will prosecute any driver or truck owner whose truck is involved in road traffic crash that resulted in the death of any passenger,” he added.
He lamented that road traffic crashes involving haulage trucks carrying passengers have been on the rise in recent times.
According to him, these crashes have resulted in numerous fatalities and injuries, causing significant economic losses and social disruptions to families and the nation.
Mato said stakeholders such as government agencies, trucking companies, and passenger transport associations, should work together with the corps to reduce the number of road traffic crashes.
“The nation continues to be outraged by the frequency of road traffic crashes and high fatality rate involving overloaded vehicles with goods and passengers on Nigerian roads” he said.
The sector commander added in the fatality passengers got crushed under the weight of goods, animals and sundry haulage items.
Mato said reducing road traffic crashes involving haulage trucks required collaborative efforts of stakeholders, on improving safety standards, education and awareness.
“These measures can help prevent crashes, reduce fatalities and injuries, and ensure safety on our nation’s highways.
“By working together, stakeholders can create a safer and more sustainable transport system that benefits everyone,” Mato said.
Also, the Commander, Zone RSI Kaduna, Mr. Godwin Omiko, said government would not allow the situation to continue.
Omiko, represented by Deputy Corps Commander, Hauwa Rilwan, said, road safety is a collective responsibility.
“I therefore employ each of you to go back and talk to your drivers to desist from this attitude of carrying passengers and goods under any circumstance,” he said.
The North West Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr. Abbani Garki, lauded FRSC for organising the sensitization.
Garki said road traffic crashes had consumed many lives and efforts should be made to stop the carnage.
Also, the Organizing Secretary, Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Kaduna branch, Mr. Nathaniel Zuntu said most overloading of vehicles take place outside designated motor parks.
Zuntu called for partnership with law enforcement agencies in addressing the problem of road traffic crashes.
