Reckless Driving: Enact Legislation Governing Trucks Transporting Gasoline, Other Products, Rights Activist Urges NASS

By Daniel Dafe

“The House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria, alongside the Nigerian Senate, which forms the National Assembly, responsible for lawmaking, representation, and oversight of the government should take a cue from Phyna’s sister, who had her leg amputated after a Dangote truck incident, to enact laws regulating driving activities.”

Comr.(Amb) Derrick Oritsematosan Agberen, National Coordinator, Initiative For Social Rights Concerns And Advancement(ISRCA) AKA “No Justice, No Peace,” said this in a statement on Tuesday.

According to him, “on a daily basis, citizens’ lives and property are threatened by the presence of heavy-duty trucks, especially those transporting gasoline products.”

Adding: “There have been numerous incidents where unprofessional driving situations have led to fatalities, explosions causing loss of lives and destruction of property,” saying that “additionally, there have been situations where brake pedal failure in busy areas has resulted in multiple deaths.”

He said further: “Apart from natural situations, where circumstances cannot be avoided, records also show that many of these drivers are not properly trained, licensed, and often too young to drive these trucks. It is also alleged that most of these younger drivers are usually under the influence of alcohol or hard substances, which has also caused fatal accidents.

“I cannot narrate incidents of trailer (truck) accidents that have claimed lives and caused serious damage to structures on the roads yearly. Trailers (trucks) are heavy-duty equipment that should not be on the roads, driving side by side with other road users. In other countries, heavy-duty trucks or containers, especially those transporting gasoline, do not move during the day. These trucks can be regulated to ply the roads from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM. They should not be on the roads during the day when the majority of people go about their jobs, as each trailer truck poses a serious danger to people, especially when on road traffic.

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“Above all, relevant Governments should stress the importance of regular checks, directing truck owners and industries to maintain a culture of maintenance of their trucks, for failure to comply would attract fine as this measure can also help to reduce accidents. The recklessness of the underaged trailer drivers should also call for serious concerns, as there are needs to caution and suggest serious, strict penalty. There should be specific age requirements for drivers that prohibits younger trailer drivers, from driving trucks in Nigeria.”

Continuing, he stated that “the Federal Government had never considered this aspect of transportation security and road safety or preventive measures, especially for trucks transporting livestock and petroleum, which are explosive and can easily wreak havoc,” just as he noted that  “trailer trucks of this kind are often stuck in traffic between other vehicles, endangering the lives of hundreds of people.”

“The House of Representatives, whose responsibility is to enact favourable laws, should also consider more stringent measures to eliminate incidents involving trailers (trucks) containing explosives to be passed into bills, as well as reckless driving amongst younger and unlicensed truck drivers. Meanwhile, State House of Assembly’s should enact laws in their respective States to regulate and checkmate the activities of truck drivers,” he concluded.