According to the Federal Road Safety Corps, towing trucks carrying passengers will soon begin.
At a stakeholders meeting on the escalating number of fatalities involving passenger haulage vehicles on Thursday in Kaduna, the sector commander for Kaduna State, Mr. Zubairu Mato, made this statement.
“Reducing Road Traffic Crashes Through Stakeholders Engagement” was the event’s theme.
He emphasized that because haulage vehicles were designed to transport products, the Corps would also prosecute truck owners and drivers who transported people.
“Any vehicle that is stopped will have its occupants removed in order to find alternate transportation to their destinations, and the driver will get the appropriate punishment.
“The Corps henceforth will prosecute any driver or truck owner whose truck is involved in a 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 fatalities 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.
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“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 the government would not allow the situation to continue.
Omiko, represented by Deputy Corps Commander Hauwa Rilwan, said road safety is a collective responsibility.
The North-West Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency, Mr Abbani Garki, lauded FRSC for organising the sensitisation.
Garki said road traffic crashes had consumed many lives and efforts should be made to stop the carnage.
Also, the Organising Secretary, of the Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria, Kaduna branch, Mr Nathaniel Zuntu said most overloading of vehicles takes place outside designated motor parks.
Zuntu called for partnership with law enforcement agencies in addressing the problem of road traffic crashes. (NAN)
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