The Federal Road Safety Corps on Thursday warned operators against tampering with speed limiters.
The acting Corps Marshal, FRSC, Dauda Biu, gave the warning in his keynote address at the 2022 Annual Safety Managers Retreat in Abuja.
Biu, who was represented by the Corps Engineering Officer, FRSC, Assistant Corps Marshal Rindom Kumven, noted that the retreat was basically intended to address certain critical observations made by the Corps regarding the management of fleet operations in the country so far with its attendant consequences.
He also said expert investigations confirmed that the spate of road traffic crashes involving especially fleet operators could have been avoided if all safety managers had been committed to their roles.
The acting Corps Marshal added that the Corps would not hesitate to sanction violators of speed limiters.
He said, “It should be noted that the Corps’ recent appraisal of public transportation vis-à-vis general implementation of the Road Transport Safety Standardisation Scheme has also revealed an unacceptably low level of effective compliance with installation of the Speed Limiting Device.
“Lapses observed included non-installation or tampering with the device, connivance with vendors to secure compliance certificates without actual installation, calibration above the approved speed limits and so on.
“These shall no longer be tolerated as the Corps will not hesitate to sanction violators henceforth.”
Speaking on the ’ember’ month, Biu said, “Please remember that we are already in the ’ember’ months which are usually characterised by increased mobility, a frenzy of activities, pressure to meet targets and unfortunately a period when many drivers (especially commercial drivers) throw caution to the wind by speeding, taking little or no rest at all with its resultant negative consequences (crashes).
“It is our hope therefore that Safety Managers would do the needful to ensure that their drivers observe all required safety precautions of road use within this period and beyond.”