RSC enforces tanker drivers’ ban from night journeys

                              
The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) yesterday reiterated its ban on petroleum tanker drivers from night journeys today.
FRSC Corps Marshal Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi said in Lagos that any truck found contravening the order would be impounded.
According to him, the ban is to promote safe petroleum haulage.
“No tanker should be seen on the road at night. We need to find solutions to incessant crashes of tankers on the road.
“Beneficial as petroleum sector is to the nation, safe haulage remains FRSC concern.
“There is a problem and we have solutions to them, no more night journeys for petroleum products, from Monday, December 19, enough is enough.
“The effects of crashes are quite unquantifiable on human life, environment and economy,” Oyeyemi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The FRSC boss noted that a crash involving a tanker laden with petrol will lose N50 million; the cost of its contents and vehicle.
Oyeyemi said many night crashes  had caused severe damage to people and the community.
He said besides the lives lost, number of houses, shops, farm and other investment were engulfed in flames.
The corps marshal added that such incident portrayed the nation in bad light.
Oyeyemi said the dimension and scale of devastation caused by these crashes were huge on the society.
According to him, there are laws and policies to tackle the problem, if every stakeholder complied.
He said the National Road Traffic Regulations 2013, Road Transport Safety Standardisation Scheme and Safe-to Load-Projects were part of the efforts to tackle the problem.
Oyeyemi advised tanker drivers to stop deliberate violation, neglect and non-compliance to basic road traffic regulation.
He appealed to them to stop intimidating other road users, especially, those who drive light weight vehicles by exposing them to risk.
The FRSC boss said the mandatory Speed Limiting Device installation was a good initiative at reducing speed-related crashes.
“It is also essential to install trackers in vehicles on the fleet to obtain real time information about drivers and driving behaviour, which are paramount for successful operations.’’
“Also drivers involved in delivery and distribution of petroleum products in the country must be properly trained and certified.”