The Lagos State command of the Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC) says it impounded 835 Articulated Vehicles in 2020 under its operation Scorpion l,ll and lll.
The state sector commander,Mr Olusegun Ogungbemide, gave the figure at a conference in Lagos.
The conference with the theme “Curbing crashes Involving Articulated Vehicles,” was jointly organized by FRSC,Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA) and Vehicle Inspection service (VIS), Lagos State.
The FRSC, Lagos sector command had in recent times adopted and engaged in some home-grown operational initiatives,one of such was code – named Operation Scorpion l, ll and lll.
The operation,first of its kind was held in 2016 and subsequently carried out in 2020, was introduced to wage a total war against haulage servicing vehicles that operate below required and globally acceptable safety standards.”
The Operation recorded 835 Articulated Vehicles booked for various offences ranging from failure to properly secure containerized goods with the aid of proper latching hooks to operating with worn-out tyres and other mechanical deficiencies.
Ogungbemide called for the cooperation of major fleet owners as truckers bore the largest brunts of any traffic mishaps in the country adding that accidents involving Articulated Vehicles have huge negative impacts on the economy.
“For instance in 2018, Nigeria lost over N 39 billion to tanker and trailer- related road crashes.”
According to available statistics,a total of 650 tankers and trailers were involved in crashes in 2018, over 90 per cent of the affected vehicles having been used for haulage transportation for over 30 years.
On his part, The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr Olajide Oduyoye, appealed to motorists and others aiding gridlock in the state to change their attitudes and support the state government to achieve safety of lives and property.
He admonished traffic officers to priortise safety of lives and property adding that gridlock affects all aspects of life.
“Enforcement need to take place to enable people to do the right thing,we need to step up our action; our people like begging when they violate traffic rules in order not to be sanctioned, he said.
Oduyoye advised transport operators to remove rickety Articulated Vehicles from the roads. He said that the state Governor Mr Babajide Sanwo- Olu was committed to tackling perennial gridlock on Apapa road but needed the cooperation of all.
The Director of Vehicle Inspection Service(VIS),Lagos State, Mr Akin Fashola said VIS would collaborate with stakeholders to stop rickety vehicles from plying Nigeria Roads.
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