What is the level of motorists’ compliance since the FRSC began the enforcement of the speed limiter device on February 1st this year in the FCT?

In respect to compliance with the enforcement of the speed limiter by commercial drivers which began since February 1, 2017, a good number of fleet operators, those who also engage in intra-city transportation and other persons who are in the commercial transportation category are complying. 

Some others have been appealing for consideration because of the large fleet they have.  They are appealing that the economic situation in the country is harsh but we are continually advising them that there is no price that one can place on human life.  

The reason for FRSC, after due consultation with relevant stakeholders, to implement the speed limiter policy is the need to reduce incidents of crashes occasioned by excessive speed. 

We do know from experience that when you are driving at high speed, you tend to be tensed up. You are not relaxed as you will be when you are driving let’s say at 80 kilometres per hour.        

Besides, there is standard regulation on the speed recommended for different kinds of vehicles and different road types in the Highway Code, which is a regulation to guard drivers on the highways. The maximum speed recommended for commercial vehicles on the express is 90 kilometres, while for private cars it is 100 kilometres per hour.

You talked about fleet operators complying. What about individual commercial motorists, what is their compliance level, especially in percentages?

The enforcement on commercial drivers is full, including those who are operating within the city, who also came here with a delegation requesting for consideration that they are not likely to operate outside the Federal Capital Territory. The road between AYA and Zuba is an expressway, will you say now that you will never operate on it even though you are a private driver? So this device we have introduced is for their benefit and the only thing that comes back to the FRSC is when we have less cases of road traffic crashes that are speed induced. Then we say yes, our job has been made good by motorists’ compliance. 

But the motorists are complaining that the speed limiter device is expensive?           

I don’t know the category of those complaining, but the point is that the FRSC does not market speed limiters. In fact, we are not in the position to even tell you that this is it. The FRSC, in collaboration with the relevant stakeholders met at different meetings and transport unions made appeals for consideration . They asked for time to enable them make  preparation for the commencement of the enforcement. 

And on five different occasions, this consideration was given. So we had the enforcement time shifted on five occasions until all the parties involved agreed that it is now time to enforce. The first time the enforcement was fixed was January 1,  2015 and due to the appeals, we had to shift it to September 1, 2015. This was again moved to April 1, 2016, and then  to October 1, 2016, before the final enforcement date of  February 2017.  

Every party was duly represented which included, Chairman Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter Governmental Affairs, House Committee on FRSC, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and DG Standard Organisation of Nigeria. 

We also had the National Automotive Design Council, Office of the National Security Adviser, Directorate of State Security, the Association of Speed Limiters  of Nigeria and all the unions in the transport sector on the committee.  So it was not something that the FRSC brought on its own. 

What is the process of obtaining a new driver’s license, as a lot of people are still being defrauded  by those saddled with the responsibility of processing driver’s license?      

The process of issuance of driver’s license is to visit the FRSC website. It is recommended that before you start driving a car, you must attend a driving school. And one of the things you must be familiar with is the Highway Code. So enrolling in a certified driving school in Abuja is the first step. 

Any driving school that is not certified to operate is not authorised to train any prospective driver. 

So, once you have passed through that process, then your certificate of competence will be automatically issued, which is the time you may now visit the FRSC website for driver’s license. 

But if you are not familiar with the computer, you may have to visit any of the FRSC offices in Abuja. We have the driver’s license centre at the sector command here, we have at Lugbe, we have at Bwari, we have at Kuje, we have at Mabushi inside the VIO’S office and we have in Gwagwalada too. So depending on where you live or where you work, once you visit any of those places, you will be guided on what to do.

After payment of the prescribed fee,  presently we have two tenures. If you want a driver’s license for 10 year’s period, the fee is N10, 450. If  you want a driver’s license for five years tenure, the fee is N6, 350 and it is not going to be paid to any individual.  

Nigerians are ever in a hurry and this behavior you see manifest on the road, in banks, business places, as people never exercise patience to take their turns. 

And because of that some of them go out of their way to do the unexpected. Mind you, it is somebody who is lacking in character, it is somebody with questionable character that usually falls for fraudsters. You want to reap where you did not sow. 

So if you have been guided on how to obtain a driver’s license and you throw caution to the wind, because somebody has told you he will do it faster than the organization that  has the responsibility to process it, then whatever you get, you blame yourself. 

POSTED BY:OPUOMONI PRIYE

DATE:05/04/2017